" Upon thecohnns, the compacted beams, made from three timbers of two feet, are disposed ; and these are returned from the third columns, which are in the interior part, to the ante that project from the pronaos, and on the right and left touch the hemicycle.
" !Jima' the beams, perpendicularly to the capitals, the pike (a kind of blocking for supporting the plates) are placed, three feet high, and four feet broad, on every side. Over these, other beams, well wrought from two timbers of two feet, are placed ; upon which the transtraie and capareols being fixed coincident with the zophorus, antic, and walls of the pronaos, sustain the culmen the whole length of the basilica, and another transversely from the middle over the pronaos of the temple : so that it causes a double disposition of the fastigium, and gives a handsome appear ance to the roof on the outside, and to the lofty testudo within. The omission of the ornaments of the epistylium, and of the upper columns and plutei, diminishes the labour of the work, and saves great part of the expense. The columns likewise being carried in one continued height tip to the beams of the testudo, increase the magnificence and dignity of the work." In the foregoing description, the proportion which Vitru vius assigns to basilicas in general, does not agree with that which he executed at the colony of Julia of Fanuin, which appears to be of a different construction from the common as, in the former, the ranges of columns which form the porticos, appear to have been disposed in two heights, with a gallery between ; whereas, in the latter, the columns were disposed in one range in the height, with attached pilasters behind, in two rows, one above the other, and the galleries between the pilasters nearly against the middle of the columns, resting upon the lower range. Nor are the proportions the same : for in the former, the breadth is specified not to be less than a third part of the length, nor more than half, unless the nature of the place opposes the proportion ;" the breadth of the latter is, however, more than the half, for the length of the nave is one hundred and twenty feet, and the breadth sixty feet ; now, adding forty feet to each, the breadth of the two opposite porticos, will make the whole length of the building one hundred and sixty feet, and the breadth of the same one hundred feet, which is more than the half of one hundred and sixty. In
the general construction, no columns are mentioned at the ends, unless the ehalcidze (which are introduced in order to proportionate the building) are comported by columns, but in the basilica constructed by Vitruvius, porticos are clearly understood in the breadth, as well as in the length; for he says, " The columns in the breadth of the testudo, including those of the angles to the right and left, are four ; and in the length, on that side which is next the fliritin, including the same columns, eight ; on the other side there are but six including those of the angles ; because the middle two on this side are omitted, that they may not obstruct the view of the pronaos of the temple of Augustus." When Vitruvius speaks of the length and breadth of the basilica, it is reasonable to suppose, that these were the dimensions within the walls ; but whether ancient edifices of this description had walls, or were supported upon odium's, is a desideratum which cannot be ascertained, but in the disco veries of ancient edifices, which are perhaps, as yet, embo somed in the earth ; and it is to be regretted, that, some buildings of a similar description have been discovered, they are by no means decided, neither in their proportion nor construction. Fragments of the plan of Rome, taken under Severus, which still exists, show a part of the basilica tEmiliana, exhibiting two rows of columns on each side, without an exterior wall, which renders it doubtful whether they ever were enclosed or not : perhaps the warmth of the climate of Italy did not require it.
"It is to Constantine, that the first Christian churches, known by the name of basilicas, are to be referred. This prince signalized his zeal by the erection of monuments, which announced the triumph of the religion which he had embraced. He gave his own palace on the Cmlian mount, to construct on its site a church, which is recognized for the most ancient Christian basilica. A modern building has so masked and disfigured the ancient, that only the situation and plan of this monument can be discovered.