Plate 11. The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassæ near Phigalia

This Temple dedicated to Apollo was built in the hills near Phigalia by Ictinus the architect of the Parthenon, and, according to Pausanias, was the most beautiful of all Temples in Peloponnes, with the exception of the Temple of Athena Alea.

The Temple of Apollo is a six-columned Peripteral, with 15 columns on the long side, arising from a base of three plinths. The peristyle encloses a Temple in antis. The interior is divided into two parts; the larger rectangular one, which probably was open at the top[, s]hows along the sides four niches formed by projecting piers, with […] Ionic columns on the front of them[.] The smaller chamber was roofed and had an entrance at the east side was presumably the room which contained the god. The Ionic order of the interior, Temple is described on Plate 37.

The stone from which the Temple was built is a bluish white limestone with brown veining which was quarried nearby. The decorated parts are worked out of a Parian like marble.

On the exterior the greater portion of the columns, with their architraves, was in place.

Of the remaining parts, sufficient remained so that the Temple has been restored completely[, as shown in our] drawing. The columns are 6.15 meters high, and 1.17 meters in diameter, with the exception of the corner columns, which are 1.18 meters. They have a very slight taper, and for that [reason] a very slight entasis.

On Plate 11 Fig 1, is represented the pediment corner of the front. The relations and forms of the principal parts on this Temple are little different from those of the monuments of Attica of the age of Pericles, heretofore discussed, only the columns are a little slimmer, and the cyma has a considerably different form. It is the Ionic form decorate[d with the anthe]mion ornament in relief. Fig 3 shows a profile of the same with the pediment corona. The latter is [but] little less in height than the horizontal corona. The cyma ends (similar to that at Parthenon) with the return at the corner to a lion's head which spouts out the rain water.

The eave tiles (at Fig. 4) are decorated with palmetto in relief. The roof tiles yet remaining (of Parian marble) show that the flat and cover tiles consisted of one piece and were […] inches by 3 ft. 6[…] inches (English), being the largest known.

Fig 5 shows the echinus, the ending of the channels of the column shaft and the two very noteworthy and delicate rings connecting the shaft with the hypotrachelium or necking.

Fig 6 shows the antæ with the lower portion of the shaft not yet tooled.

Fig 7 shows a portion of the Temple in plan, with the beams of the ceiling shown by dotted lines P. The architrave of the pronaos was about one foot lower than that of peristyle, and therefore not connected thereto.