Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/236

 178 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. 2. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER. One style was evolved from another so gradually that it is impossible to say exactly where the one ended and the next began. This gradual growth characterizes progress in other departments as well as Architecture. Each age feels its way towards the expression of its own ideals, modifying the art of the past to meet fresh conditions. Little money being at the command of the Early Christians, it was necessary for them to adopt places of worship which could be readily constructed. Many of the Roman Temples, which were now rendered useless for their original purpose, were utilized for the new faith, and in addition new churches built on the model of the old Roman basilicas, and formed of columns and other features from Pagan buildings, were erected. These are known as basilican churches, and were often situated over the entrances to their former hiding-places or crypts, and were constructed with columns of different orders and sizes which were made to an uniform height by the addition of new pieces of stone, or double bases, or in some cases by the omission of the base mouldings (No. 77). On this account, although extremely interesting from an archaeo- logical point of view, the early buildings can hardly have the value for study, in the architect's mind at least, v/hich a new manner in architecture, arising from new structural necessities, is certain to possess. The earlier basilican churches had their columns closely spaced, and were crowned with the entablature which supported the main wall, on which rested the wooden roof (No. 75 b), but as the arch came more into general use these columns were spaced further apart, being connected by semicircular arches (Nos. 72, 73 A and 74). The basilican church with three or five aisles, covered by a wooden roof, is the special type of the style as opposed to the vaulted types of the Byzantine style (Nos. 80, 81, 84 and 85), in which a circular dome was placed over a square space by means of the pendentive (No. 79). The architectural character is impressive and dignified ; due to the increase in the apparent size of the basilicas by the long perspective of the columns, and the comparative lowness of the interiors in proportion to their length. 3. EXAMPLES. BASILICAN CHURCHES. The plans of the basilicas, or Roman halls of justice, were copied by the early Christians for their places of worship, and