Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/122

98] from the practice among the inhabitants of America, where the human race existed in its rudest state: these people were no sooner collected into great bodies, under the Emperors of Mexico and Peru, than stone buildings were immediately attempted. Hence the origin of architecture should not be searched for in any single nation, but in every country, at a time when the natives began to relinquish their savage way of life, and to adopt civilized manners.

The origin of all regular buildings, however, hath, by several authors, been generally, and very plausibly, deduced from the construction of the meanest huts. These were, at first, probably made of a conic figure, which is the simplest in structure, but being inconvenient on account of its inclined sides, both the figure and construction of the huts were changed, by giving them a cubical form.

At length, mankind insensibly improved in the art of building, and invented methods of rendering their habitations durable and handsome, as well as convenient. They deprived the trunks of trees of their bark, and other inequalities of surface, raised them above the wet, or humid soil, by means of stones, and also covered each with a flat stone, or slate, to exclude the rain. The interstices between the ends of the joists, were closed with wax, clay, or similar substances: the position of the roof was likewise altered; and, as on account of its level surface, it was unfit to carry off the abundant rain-water, they elevated it in the middle, by placing rafters on the joists, to support the earth and other materials of the covering. From this simple construction, the orders of architecture undoubtedly took their origin; for, when the rude builder began to erect stately edifices of stone, he imitated those parts which, from necessity, had composed the primitive huts. Thus, the upright trees, with stones at each end, were the origin of columns, bases, and capitals; and the beams, joists, rafters, &c. which formed the covering, gave rise to architraves, frizes, trigliphs, cornices, &c.

Although the first buildings were rough and uncouth, because the artificers of those remote ages possessed neither skill, experience, nor tools, yet, when by length of practice, certain rules had been established, and many new instruments invented, the art rapidly advanced towards perfection: a variety of style, or different methods of building, were discovered, which, by succeeding generations, have been held in the greatest esteem.

The Egyptians, from the earliest ages of antiquity, have been considered as the inventors of arts; and, among other contrivances, may be numbered that species of original architecture, in which the strength of the fabric was more regarded than either its elegance, or symmetry.

We cannot, consistently with the plan of this work, enter into a detail of the rise and progress of architecture; and shall, therefore, only observe, that the Greeks, whose sublime and penetrating genius prompted them to combine elegance with convenience, derived their first ideas of building from the Egyptians.

But the mind of man being unquestionably influenced by the mode of government under which he lives; and the Greeks, with their independence, having also lost their ascen-