Full text: Vitruvius: The civil architecture of Vitruvius

A portico of the Pandroseum at Athens furnishes an 
instance of the representation of female figures supporting 
an entablature, and is so beautiful as almost to justify what 
may perhaps be considered as a capricious deviation from 
established taste. The date of this elegant structure must, 
beyond all doubt, be deemed coëval with that of the double 
temple of Minerva-Polias and Pandrosus to which it is 
annexed'. 
It is not at present my intention, in addition to these 
remarks on the temples of the Greeks, to pursue and to note 
the gradual changes and variations in the different species of 
their ornamental architecture—their theatres—their forums 
—their public baths and private dwellings; although each of 
these topics furnishes matter for much curious investigation. It 
remains, however, to attempt briefly to ascertain the age and 
origin of the use of the arch, an invention which was calculated 
to produce the greatest revolution in the practice of architecture 
at the period of its adoption, and which, from its many 
advantages, has been universally preserved and admired in 
modern times. After submitting this subject to a good deal 
of inquiry and reflection, it appears most probable that the 
era of the Macedonian conquest nearly coincides with that of 
the first introduction of this remarkable feature of Grecian 
architecture. Much has been written to prove that the use 
of the arch was not only familiar to the earliest artists of 
Thessalonica, still remaining in part, and described by Stuart (Athens, vol. iii. c. 9.) 
This edifice, indeed, ought perhaps to be added to the examples mentioned in the 
text, although its date is of questionable authority. 
Pausan. Att. 21. Stuart’s Athens, vol. ii. c. 2.
	        
Waiting...

Note to user

Dear user,

In response to current developments in the web technology used by the Goobi viewer, the software no longer supports your browser.

Please use one of the following browsers to display this page correctly.

Thank you.

powered by Goobi viewer