Page:Vitruvius the Ten Books on Architecture.djvu/250

212 its approval authoritatively and on the principle of propriety to that which really can exist. The fact is that pictures which are unlike reality ought not to be approved, and even if they are tech­nically fine, this is no reason why they should offhand be judged to be correct, if their subject is lacking in the principles of reality carried out with no violations.

5. For instance, at Tralles, Apaturius of Alabanda designed with skilful hand the scaena of the little theatre which is there called the, representing columns in it and statues, Centaurs supporting the architraves, rotundas with round roofs on them, pediments with overhanging returns, and cornices ornamented with lions' heads, which are meant for nothing but the rainwater from the roofs, and then on top of it all he made an episcaenium in which were painted rotundas, porticoes, half-pediments, and all the different kinds of decora­tion employed in a roof. The effect of high relief in this scaena was very attractive to all who beheld it, and they were ready to give their approval to the work, when Licymnius the mathema­tician came forward and said that (6.) the Alabandines were con­sidered bright enough in all matters of politics, but that on ac­count of one slight defect, the lack of the sense of propriety, they were believed to be unintelligent. "In their gymnasium the stat­ues are all pleading causes, in their forum, throwing the discus, running, or playing ball. This disregard of propriety in the inter­change of statues appropriate to different places has brought the state as a whole into disrepute. Let us then beware lest this scaena of Apaturius make Alabandines or Abderites of us. Which of you can have houses or columns or extensive pediments on top of his tiled roof? Such things are built above the floors, not above the tiled roofs. Therefore, if we give our approval to pictures of things which can have no reason for existence in actual fact, we shall be voluntarily associating ourselves with those communi­ties which are believed to be unintelligent on account of just such defects."

7. Apaturius did not venture to make any answer, but removed