" Similar in plan to the building at Athens, is the Propyhea at Eleusis, and, in design, little inferior to its Athenian pro totype. It was erected, together with the Temple of Ceres, to which it served as a vestibule, and the connected Temple of Diana-Propyhea, by Pericles, for the solemnization of the Mysteries of Ceres, the most sacred among the religious rites ilreeee.
" The Propyhea bears a striking resemblance to that at Athens, having at each end a portico of six columns, five gates, and two rows of Ionic columns within. To make the central opening large enough to admit chariots, the usual ar rangement is departed from, by the addition of a triglyph in the frieze over the space between the central columns. The pavement, the steps, and every part of the superstructure, were of line Pentelie marble ; the roof, also, was covered with marble slabs, worked into the shape of tiles ; the joints of these tiles were covered with others, which follow the slope of the roof. to prevent the admission of water. This inge nious contrivance was the invention of lhzes, of Naxos ; and it was so highly appreciated by the Greeks, that they honoured the inventor with a statue. The termination of the joint-tiles was formed by an upright tile, on which was painted the lotus. Byzcs lived 5S0 years before the Chris tian era.
" After passing through the Propylaea at Eleusis, the vota ries had to enter another building, forming a second vestibule to the grand mystic temple. The order in this building was the Ionic. Beyond this vestibule was the Temple of Ceres, which was protected by the sacred inelosure, or wall. in front was a portico of twelve columns, which have the peen liarity of not being fluted from top to bottom, as Doric columns usually are, but their shafts plain throughout their whole height, with the exception of a part at their top and at the bottom of each, about 7 inches high, which is fluted. Within the temple, according to a passage in Plutarch, it is imagined there were two ranges of columns, with others over them. The architect of this building was Xenocles.
" In front of the Eleusinian Propyhea was the temple of Diana Propylaea, presenting an arrangement in its porticos differing from any examples we have hitherto noticed ; instead of columns at its angles, antic, which are often improperly called pilasters, terminate its fronts : the distinction between the Greek antte and Roman pilasters is very great. The
former were never diminished (or so slightly as not to appear so to the eye), and were not fluted, their capitals consisted of straight lines ; whereas the Roman pilasters were diminished like their columns, frequently fluted, and their capitals generally resembled those of the accompanying columns. The temple of which we are speaking, was small, with a front measuring only 20 feet 10 inches on its upper step ; its length 39 feet 9 inches, and its height to the top of the cornice 20 feet 6 inches ; the building was of Pentelie marble, but with roof tiles of baked clay.
" At Olympia, in the Peloponnesus, once existed a magni ,.
ficent hexastyle temple of Jupiter, of which the dimensions are presumed to have been 230 feet by 95 feet. Mr. Dodwell measured a column, of which the diameter was 7 feet 3 inches. Within this building was enshrined the master-piece of Phidias, his statue of Jupiter, of gold and ivory, 50 cubits high.
" At Phamnus in Attica, on the sea-coast, is a fine Doric temple of Nemesis, which stands in a noble situation, elevated 300 feet above the sea. Pausanias says that it was built by Aleemenes, the pupil of Phidias. This temple, and a smaller one adjoining it, dedicated to Themis, were inclosed by a wall of white marble, remains of which are yet to be traced. The temple of Nemesis had at each end porticos of 6 columns, and flanks containing 12 each ; the external columns, like those to the temple of Ceres, were only fluted at top and bottom. It is ascertained that the mouldings of the cornices were painted red, a practice adopted by the Greeks in other temples. The details in this building arc very fine. Close to it is the small building which bears the name of Themis, but which is supposed to be the original temple of Nemesis, injured by the Persians ; and the Greeks not caring to repair a structure desecrated by their enemies, chose rather to erect another. The smaller building is in fact of an earlier style, being one of the class called in antis, a mode of building well known to be of great antiquity. It is very similar to the small temple of Diana at Eleusis.