Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/190

 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud.ea. th« temple ; under the porch the Master sat surrounded by the Twelve, as He preached to the assembled multitudes. The twin arches of this gateway, resting upon a central pier of considerable size, open into a large vestibule or chamber. Down it, in the middle, runs a single row of pillars ; whilst stairways, one on each side, lead to the platform above (Figs. 120, 121). Of the old gate nothing remains but the central column A, with its capital ; pillar BC and column D, including some stones in the lateral walls of the chamber. These sections belong to the " first method," and are shaded in our woodcut (Fig. 122). Although the general character of this doorway was preserved, the re- mainder betrays a different hand, both in detail and mode of execution. It is a style of architecture simple and bold withal, well fitted to the use and place of its destination. The column is massive (four diameters), and without pediment ; its capital, a simple widening of the shaft, is ornamented by an arrangement of acan- thus leaves in bas-relief. 1 The column D, and the twin-engaged columns B and C, the upper portion of the shafts and capitals of which are now destroyed, were doubtless distinguished by the same characteristics. I ||r As we stated, all were rebuilt at a later period, together with the chamber that had fallen in. The walls were rough cast ; from the central column sprang a double set of arches, surmounted by an equal number of domes, which rested on a square by means of pendentives or spherical triangles. 2 Close against the outer wall 1 De Vogué, Le Temple, p. 9, Fig. 6 and Plate IV. 2 Restorations on a large scale were undoubtedly made in Jerusalem under the Ss