Page:Greek Buildings Represented by Fragments in the British Museum (1908).djvu/64

 48 THE TOMB OF MAUSOLUS. having a base of the proportion 34 to nearly 43 (17 inches by nearly 21 A inches) and now intersect these with true 45 degree mitre lines drawn from the angles of the foundation rectangle, we obtain geometrically the proper base of the pyramid. (Fig. 34.) As some of Pliny's dimensions are corrupt and different in the different MSS., and others are difficult to reconcile with each other, and are therefore doubtful, even the number of columns he gives is subject to the same doubt ; but from the three facts made known to us by the actual remains (i. The size of the columniation ; 2. The size of the foundation ; 3. The proportion of the base of the pyramid) zve may arrive independently at the number of bays, eight on the front and ten on the side, by spacing up bays of about 9, 9 as close to the limit of the base of the pyramid as possible. When it is found that the line so found for the centres of the columns agrees exactly with the line of the basis of the pyramid, the demonstra- tion is surely complete. In the diagram, Fig. 34, A B are the angles of a rectangle of 17 inches by nearly 21 i inches, which was drawn full size. C D are angles of the foundation to scale. At E and F the diagonals and the mitres intersect. This gives the base of the pyramid, and it is found that the peristyle divides up accurately on the same line, giving 36 columns. Besides the wide steps which have been mentioned, others, but not so many, were found, having treads of loi, 9, and less, as may be seen at the British Museum. A few such narrower steps are required to get in the full number of twenty-four around the pedestal of the chariot group. About sixteen or eighteen wide steps and six or eight narrower ones would suit our dimensions. At the base the first step or attic was doubtless much deeper than the rest. The Cella. The name pteron requires a cella to which it is added.* Newton pointed out that a fragment of a cross beam which was discovered must have rested on the cella wall, for it was rough for 2 feet at the end. He also writes, " One stone of the cella
 * See passages cited by Newton, p. 190.