In modern times, the mode of warfare being so com pletely changed, as to render superiority of mind of more consequence than the mere athletic force of body, the ex ercises which were calculated chiefly for the improve ment of the latter, have long ago ceased to be in estima tion to demand purposed establishments. The amuse ments of the theatre have, however, been carried to a degree of refinement unknown to the ancients, and, in an architectural point of view, have become sufficiently im portant to require a separate article. The amusements of the ancients cannot, with propriety, be separated from those of the moderns ; so that we must, for further infor mation, refer our readers to the article THEATRE, under which the several edifices adapted to these purposes will be noticed at considerable length.
Domestic .Architecture.
In considering the art of building, as adapted to the purposes of domestic life, it is necessary to advert not only to the climate, and general manners, but also to the several gradations of society in which individuals are placed. In England, we have the prince, the noble, the smaller land-owner, the freeholder, the cottager, the mer chant, manufacturer, and mechanic, and others who are engaged in the church, physic, and law. But the pecu liarities which arise from public offices, or from different professions or occupations, must be treated of under se parate heads ; here we can only regard the accommoda tion of their families.
In external appearance, internal arrangement, and also decoration, the dwelling of the prince ought to be suitable to his superior situation ; the habitation of the noble will also be in some measure modelled by his rank and duties ; and that of others, as their possession of wealth enables them to enjoy profusion, or confines them to the mere necessaries of life. National habits and man ners, also, greatly affect the domestic architecture of a country. In China, where there is no hereditary rank, there is little appearance of distinction in their houses, excepting in the dwellings of public officers ; and the houses of those officers, and even the palaces of the em peror, are insignificant, when compared with the extent and riches of the empire. Amongst the Greeks, while the utmost efforts of fine architecture were exerted upon temples and other public edifices, the private dwellings were generally plain and mean. Yet from the plan of a Greek villa given by Palladio from Vitruvius, (see Plate CLXI.) it appears that a considerable degree of magni ficence had at last been introduced; but we have no ac count of the period when this change took place.
Until near the termination of the Roman republic, the utmost simplicity was preserved both in their public buildings and private dwellings; but immediately on the influx of Asiatic wealth, both were carried to an extreme of magnificence. The tribute and plunder of the exten sive provinces centering in Italy, the villas of the princi pal Romans, much exceeded in number, extent, and splendour, all others in the world. The plan given by Vitruvius, (see Plate CLXI.) will convey an idea of their arrangement, and shew, that the palaces of modern prin ces will suffer by being compared with them.
This unbounded luxury being created and supported by the tribute and plunder of the richest provinces of the empire, could only exist while these were kept in sub jection, or were ruined, and they were accordingly in the end totally destroyed, with their degenerate possessors, by the different barbarous hordes which overwhelmed the empire.
For many ages after the destruction of the Roman empire by the Goths, Vandals, and Mahometan Arabs, the private dwellings of the conquerors were extremely mean ; being scarcely advanced beyond the shepherd state, they set little value upon fixed habitations. It was not until the whole of Europe was overrun, and the various tribes had settled upon and begun to cultivate different districts, that permanent habitations became an object of attention. The feuds between neighbouring tribes, and the attempts of fresh swarms to dispossess those already settled and partly civilized, led to the con struction of places of strength ; and these were contri ved, not only to lodge the chief and his immediate depen dants, but also to afford protection for cattle and effects in cases of violent attack. The forms of the earliest, be ing very little calculated for domestic purposes, were probably at first only resorted to occasionally, but they in time became the never-failing appendages of every great lordship, and the constant habitation of the baron's family.
In Britain, the Saxons most probably preserved and made use of fortresses which had been constructed by the Romans; and it is certain, that King Alfred, after hav ing expelled the Danes, caused many towers to he erect ed : But it was the Norman conquest which completely covered England with fortified castles upon an improved plan.