ODILLIONS, (French,) in architecture, mut tiles carved into consoles, placed under the soffit or bottom of the drip of the corona in the Corinthian and Roman orders, for support ing the larmier and sima, or appearing to perform the office of support.
In Grecian architecture, the Ionic order is without modil lions in the cornice, as are also the Roman examples of the same order, except the temple of Concord, at Rome, has both dentils and modillions.
A singular and curious example of a modillion cornice, but contrary to the principles of architecture. is to be found in the interior cornices of the Tower of the Winds, at Athens, in which the projecting part is much thicker than the inte rior, where the stress seems to lie, and, consequently, gives the idea of weakness.
A singular example of modillions is to be found in the frontispiece of Nero, at Rome, where they consist of two plain faces, separated by a small sitna-reversa, and crowned with an ovolo and bead. Another very extraordinary form of MI Idillions is that placed in the frieze of the fourth order of the Coliseum, cut on the outside, or projecting part, of a sima reversa form.
In most examples of the Corinthian and Roman orders, the cornices have both dentils and modillions ; but, lithe two are used together, in good proportion to the other parts. so as to appear distinctly at a reasonable distance, the cornice will be overcharged, both in proportion and weight, to the other principal members of the entablature, or the entablature to the whole order ; the one or the other ought, therefore, to be omitted in the same cornice.
In the general disposition of modillions, if each one is con ceived to be divided into two equal parts by a vertical plane at right angles to the surface of the frieze, one of the modil lions is so disposed, that its dividing vertical surface will be entirely in a plane passing through the axis of the column, and in the column next the angle of the building there is generally only one modillion between that through which the plane abmg the axis passes, and the angle of the cornice.
The vertical sides of modilliolls at right angles to the face, are generally finished with volutes of different sizes, and turned on different sides of the same line; the greater being that next to the vertical surthce, to which they are attached, and the lesser at the extremity.
The soffits of the modillions, so constructed, follow the under line of the volutes, and the connecting undulated line which joins them. The upper part of each volute is on the same level, and is attached to a moulding of the sima-inversa form, which returns round it ; and this moulding is again attached to the corona, which hangs over the modillion.
In some of the Roman buildings, the modillions are not placed over the axes of the columns, neither upon those at the extremes, or over the axes of the intermediate shafts. In the Pantheon, the modillion next each angle of the build ing has its vertical side, which is opposed to the next modil lion, nearer to tire central plane of the portico, over the axis of the column, and consequently the whole breadth of the modillion en one side of the axis entirely, and on that side next to the angle of the building. In the whole portico are modillions, including those at each extreme ; the intervals are, therefore, 46 in number, and 41 between the columns that are between their axis. The portico is octosty le, and, consequently, the intereulumns are seven in number : from this it will he found, th.rt if' the columns were placed equi distantly, the number of intermodillions would be 63. in num ber. In this temple the corresponding intervals are very irregular. The two extreme ones are. according to Des godetz, 9' 44", and 9' 21"; the next two, nearer the centre, are 9' 5k", and 9' ; the next two, still nearer to the cen tre, are exactly equal, being 9' 5" each ; and the central jitter columniation is 10' 41" : so that the modillions appear to be equ,diy divided, without any regard to the axis of the columns. The satire irregularity in the disposition of the modillions may be observed in the temple of Concord, and in that of Jupiter the Thunderer. In the three remaining columns of the temple of Jupiter Stator, each column has a modillion placed over its axis, and each intercoluum has three inodil lions regularly disposed : the distance between the lower ends of the shafts are 3 modules, parts, and the columns are in height '20 modules, 6i1 parts.
In the Pantheon, the mod illions are placed in the pediment, contrary to the authority t