Chapter V. Of the Compartments of Temples

ALTHOUGH in all fabricks it is requisite, that their parts should correspond together, and have such proportions, that there may be none whereby the whole cannot be measured, and likewise all the other parts; this however ought to be observed in temples with the utmost care, because they are consecrated to divinity, for the honour and reverence whereof one ought to "work as beautifully and exquisitely as is possible. As therefore the round and quadrangular are the most regular forms for temples, I shall mention how each of these ought to be comparted; and shall also insert some things belonging to temples that we Christians make use of,

Round temples were antiently made, sometimes open, that is, without a cell, with columns that supported the cupola, like those that were dedicated to Juno Lacinia; in the mid-de of which the altar was placed, and upon which the fire was never extinguished, Thee are comparted in this manner: the diameter of the whole space is so divided, that the temple is to take up three equal parts; one is given to the steps, that is, to the ascent to the floor of the temple, and two remain to the temple and the columns, which are placed upon pedestals, and are as high with the base and capital, as the diameter of the lesser course of steps, and the tenth part of their height in thickness.

The architrave, the frize, and the other ornaments, are to be made as well in this, as in all the other temples, according to what was said in the first hook. But those that are made close; that is, with a cell, are either made with wings round them, or with one portico only in the front, Of those that have wings round them, the rules are these; in the first place, two steps are to be made round them, and upon them the pedestals are to be placed, on which the columns stand; the wings are as broad as the fifth! part FOURTH of the diameter of the temple, taking the diameter in the part within the pedestals. The columns are as long as the cell is broad, and are the tenth part of their length in thickness.

The tribuna, or cupola, must be raised above the architrave, frize, and cornice of the wings, one half of the whole work, Thus Vitruvius comparts the round temples.

In antient temples however there are no pedestals to be seen, hut the columns begin from the floor of the temple: which pleases me much better, not only because the pedestal finds the entrance very much; also because the columns, which begin from the ground, add more grandeur and magnificence. But if in round temples the portico is to be placed in the front only, then it must be made as long as the breadth of the cell, or an eighth part less, and may also be made shorter; but yet it must not be shorter than three quarters of the breadth of the temple, nor must it be made wider than the third part of its enth.

In quadrangular temples the portico’s in the front must be made as long as the breadth of these temples. And if they are to be after the manner Eustilos, which is both beautiful and elegant, then they are to be thus comparted. If the aspect is to be made with four columns, all the front of the temple (excepting the projection of the bases of the columns, which are in the angles) must be divided into eleven parts and an half, and one of these parts shall be called a module, that is, a measure, with which all the other parts must be measured; because that by making the columns a module in thickness, four must be given to them, three to the intercolumniations in the middle, and four and a half to the other two intercolumniations, that is, two and a quarter each. If the front is to be of six columns, then it must be divided into eighteen parts; if of eight, into twenty four and an half; and if of ten, into thirty one: always giving of these parts one to the thickness of the columns, three to the void in the middle, and two and a quarter to each of the other voids. ‘The height of the columns mutt be according to what they shall be, whether Ionick or Corinthian.

How the aspects of the other manners of temples ought to be regulated, that is, of Picnostilos, Sistilos, Diastilos, and Areostilos, has been fully set down in the first book, when we treated of intercolumniations,

Beyond the portico one finds the anti-temple, and then the cell. The breadth is divided into four parts; eight of which are given to the length the temple, and five of these eight are given to the length of the cell, including the walls, in which are the doors; and the other three remaining are for the anti-temple, which has the sides two wings of wall, contained to the walls of the cell, in the ends of which are made two anti, that is, two pisa-Hers as thick as the columns of the portico. And because it may happen that between these wings there may be, either little or much space, if the breadth be greater than twenty foot, between the said pilasters two columns may be put, and more also according as necessity shall require, directly opposite to the columns of the portico; the use of which will be to separate the anti-temple from the portico; and those three or more voids, which shall be between the pilasters, must be closed up with wood, or with marble parapets, leaving however the openings through which one may enter into the anti-temple. If the breadth be more than forty foot, other columns must be put in the part within, opposite to them, that shall lave been put between the pilasters, and must be made of the same height of those without, but somewhat smaller, because the open air will lessen the thickness of those without, and the inclosed will not permit the smallness to be discerned of those within, and so they will appear equal.

And altho’ the said compartment answers exactly in temples of four columns, the same proportion and manner nevertheless do not suit the other aspects; because it is necessary that the walls of the cell should meet with the columns without, and be in a line. Hence the cells of these temples will be somewhat larger than what has been mentioned.

Thus the antients comparted their temples, as Vitruvius teacheth us, and were willing that a portico should be made, under which in bad weather men might avoid the sun, the rain, the hail, and the snow; and on solemn days be amused until the hour of sacrifice came on: but we, by omiting the portico’s round the temples, build them very like balilica’s, in which, as it has been said, portico’s were made in the part within, as we now do in temples. Which happened, because the first who, enlightned by truth, gave themselves up to our religion, were accustomed, for fear of the Gentiles, to assemble in the basilica’s of private men: whence seeing that this form succeeded very well, because the altar was placed, with great dignity, in the place of the tribunal, and the choir stood very conveniently round the altar, and the remaining part was free for the people, it has not been altered since. And therefore in the compartment of the wings that we make in temples, what has been said, when we treated of basilica’s, must be observed.

To our churches is joined u place separate from the remainder of the temple, which we call the sacristy; where are kept the sacerdotal vestments, the vessels, the sacred books, and the other things necessary for divine service, and here the priests dress themselves. Near to it are towers built, in which bells are hung to call the people to the divine offices, which are not made use of by any but christians. Near the temple the habitations for the priests are made; which ought to be commodious, with spacious cloisters, and fine gardens; and particularly the places for the sacred virgins ought to be secure, high, remote from noise, p y P g g g and from the sight of the people.

It is sufficient to have said thus much concerning the decorum, the aspects, the manners, and the compartments of temples, I shall insert now the designs of many ancient temples, \ p temp g Y p in which I shall observe this order. First, I (shall put the designs of the temples that are at Rome; afterwards those that are out of Rome, in other parts of Italy; lastly, those that are out of Italy. And for the sake of being better understood, and to avoid being tedious, and fatiguing to the readers, was I minutely to mention the measures of every part, I have marked them all with figures in the designs.

The Vicentine foot, with which all the following temples have been measured, is in the second book, Page 39.