Plate 45. The Theatre of Marcellus: the Ionic Order

Of the two stories which form the exterior of this theatre, the upper consists of semi-circular arches with Ionic half columns resting on a common stylobate which breaks out under the columns, forming a pedestal, the face of which is in line with the metope field of the Doric entablature below. (The Doric order is found on Plate 18.)

Plate 45 gives the details of the Ionic order with the imposts of the arches, which, like those in the Doric story, are without archivolts. At their crown the arches are 2 modules 10 parts from the under surface of the architrave, and the radius is 3 modules 10 parts. The capitals of the columns are strikingly small, especially in comparison with the entablature over them. This entablature is of a greater height than that of the Temple of Fortuna on the preceding plate, and the details of the principal parts and the single members are better arranged and in better keeping with the later Greek examples, and also with those of Vitruvius.

The two stories of this theatre, which was dedicated 80 B. C., show us the oldest example of that combination of arches and columns which has become particularly characteristic of Roman architecture, and has found many followers.