Plate 4. The Great Temple at Pæstum

The interior of the city of Pæstum consists of many ruins, out of which three examples stand forth prominently, which are now called the Temple of Neptune, Ceres and the Basilica. These temples were probably erected during the period that the city was in the hands of the Sybaritans about 510 to 340 B. C. The material used consisting of a limestone similar to Travertine was taken from the near-by hills of Alburnus, and was used in immense structures without the use of mortar. The rough surface of the stone was covered with stucco and this painted. Traces of yellow, red and black paint can still be distinguished. In the middle of the eighteenth century the ruins were again brought to notice and knowledge of them further spread through the work of Delagardette. The drawings of his book are used in the preparation of ours, some parts which were incorrectly shown are here properly represented.

On this plate we will consider the order of the so-called Temple of Neptune or great Temple. We give this the first place because it is quite correct to number it among the products of the earliest, pure Doric periods. Probably the Temple was built in the early part of the fifth century B. C. It has six columns across the front and twelve deep, all of which rise from a base of three plinths. The cella is divided into three spaces by two rows of seven columns each.

The corner columns we find are 1/80 more in diameter than the middle ones and all are much tapered and with little entasis. The capitals seem to be somewhat compressed, but this form is in keeping with the strongly diminished column.

We see similar relations of membership in the columns of the ancient Temple at Corinth (620 B. C.). The grooves at the neck are incorrectly given on our plate, as taken from Delagardette, and for that reason we have supplied a correction under B. The main cornice expresses the same heavy character as does the column. The corona is heavy, the mutules thin and the guttæ are strikingly large. The accompanying section is taken at a point between two mutules. Over the tympanum, the cornice shown in section A continues from each end to the point above. The bed moulding is especially worthy of notice, apparently being profiled with regard to the reflex light. Over the cornice of the tympanum, undoubtedly, was originally a cyma, which is found on nearly all of the ancient Temples, although in this case there remains not a trace of one. The capitals of the antæ were also designed to express the same earnest character and solidity as the other architecture of the building. The porticos have an insignificant depth, similar to that of the Temple at Rhamnus (Plate 10). A triglyphic entablature is carried around the entire cella, and its lower edge lies somewhat higher than that of the entablature of the pteroma, as the cella was considered as an independent structure inside of the pteroma, and for that reason arose from a separate foundation. Such a difference in height can also be noticed in the Temple at Corinth and later at the Parthenon and also on the Temple at Phigalia.

The architecture of the Temple of Pæstum is very important for the study and development of forms, but same should seldom be used and then only in well qualified cases in our present day requirements.