Plate 60. The Tower of the Winds at Athens

Andronicus Cyrrhestes erected this tall eight-sided horologium of Pentelic marble about 159 B. C.* On the eight sides, under the entablature, are represented in relief figures, the eight principal winds to which pointed a huge Triton, working on a pivot, which was located on the apex of the roof. Under the reliefs are yet seen indications of sun dials. Two entrances with two columned porticos led into the interior where was located a water-clock. The water to the clepsydra was lead down on a very interesting arcade which we will consider on Plate 96. On Plate 53 were shown the column and pilaster complete, and to avoid repetition we refer to our description of that plate.

Plate 60, Fig. 8, shows a plan of the portico which has now fallen in. The entablature and height of the pediment can be restored from the fragments discovered, and also the mouldings on the wall over the door, Figs. 1 and 6. The ceiling of the portico was presumably of one piece and was divided into panels and rested on the architrave as shown at Fig. 6. The column shafts are broken off above, and the capitals could not be found at the place. That given by Stuart and shown on our plate was discovered nearby and is not actually authentic, though from its similarity to the decoration on the apex of the roof and its harmonious relation to the other architecture of the building, little doubt remains but what it belonged thereto.

Fig. 4 is one eighth of the plan of the capital, and Fig. 5 a plan through the long leaves which cling to the bell of usual form. This beautiful capital of the simplest Corinthian style is often found in Greece with little variation. An ornamental example of this type of capital is that found in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Miletus shown on the preceding plate. It found use, however, only in small dimensions, and at the most should be made only 2 feet high.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the column shaft, the flutes of which do not all reach to the plinth as shown at Fig. 2. The profile of the pilaster capital at Fig. 6 could be ascertained from the traces visible on the wall. According to Stuart it is not directly under the architrave and the axis of the pilaster front leans in at the top and only the inner side of the same is vertical. Probably this was in order to give the outer line a similar leaning to that of the column shaft and thus produce a pyramidal effect. The jambs of the door also were not vertical. The crowning members over are not in a very pleasing manner connected with those of the pilaster capital. A section through the sill and door lintel at A. B. is given.

In all profiles of this building we do not find, however, that freshness and vigor displayed on the earlier monuments. With this structure closes the cycle of architectural examples of Grecian originality and purity, and we find from now on, in the later structures of Greece, the Roman influence.

*More accurately in the middle of the first century B. C. — Ed.