Plate 38. The Interior of the Propylæ at Eleusis

On Plate 12, in connection with the exterior order, was given a portion of the plan of the outer large forehall, the roof of which was supported by six Ionic columns in two rows back of the two central columns of the Doric prostyle. These two rows of three columns each, divided the forehall into three passages.

Fig. 1 shows an elevation of a column, and the front of a capital. Fig. 2 is half of the end, or bolster view, and Figs. 8 and 9 show the plan of the capital. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections through the end and through the front of the capital. At Fig. 5 is shown the detail of the band on the bolster.

The volute can be drawn by Vitruvius' method (see Plate 41). The diameter of the eye is here […] of 20 parts or 4[…] parts. This capital shows excellent proportions; the strong egg and dart echinus remains visible from below around the entire neck which gives an elegant effect.

The base of the column is of a fine Attic form and has a round plinth with a slight spread at the bottom. The height of the columns has not been ascertained, but if they had the same proportions as those at Athens they must have been about 9.93 meters or 19 modules 4 parts high.

The large expanse of the ceiling of the forehall (59 feet wide and 44[…] feet deep), required two beams or architraves for the support of the ceiling beams and the ends of the former rested on the inner encircling architrave of the Doric prostyle and they were supported at intervals on the inside by the Ionic columns. These beams were actually the architraves of the Ionic columns, the profile being indicated on Plate 12 by a dotted line at A, Fig. 1, and is represented on Plate 38 by the same letter.

The ceiling was divided into three large fields over the passages, and across the same spanned the smaller ceiling beams which are indicated at P. Those of the side passages were 5.72 meters long in the clear. On these beams rested the ceiling slabs, shown by 0, which were decorated and at the same time lightened in weight by the square panels or coffers.

Figs. 1 and 2 show sections of the ceiling slabs, and at Fig. 6 in connection with the plan of the capital is shown also in plan a part of the ceiling. Fig. 7 is a portion of a coffer at a larger scale, the plain background of the center ornament having been decorated with color. On some of the fragments green paint has been found in a well preserved state.

The material of all parts of this structure, even the roof tile, was Pentelic marble. For the knowledge of this monument we are indebted to the efforts of the architects of the English Society of Dilettanti, who succeeded in reconstructing the whole from the fragments discovered. Later examinations of the Athenian Propylæ, from which that at Eleusis was copied, have not brought as satisfactory results as regards the ceiling.