The Greeks having invented and established three or ders, with each a separate character, calculated for edi fices, gradually ascending from the most simple to those which were highly ornamented, completed a distinct and perfect school of architecture, to which there remained nothing to be added.
From the account given of the various edifices con structed after each order, it is evident, that the passion for magnificent buildings and fine sculpture was carried to a great height. It so far exceeded the apparent extent of the means of the Greek states, that an eminent archi tect and architectural writer of our own country, (Sir W. Chambers,) disputed their existence. Unfortunately for his speculations, the labours of late scientific travellers, perfectly qualified, and of undoubted veracity, have fur nished correct drawings of many remains, which fully justify the accounts of former times, and are highly de serving the encomiums which have been bestowed upon them.
After the defeat of Xerxes, the Greeks obtained the full possession of liberty. They applied with great suc cess to the cultivation of philosophy, science, and arts. They became not only sensible, but vain, of their deci ded superiority over the Egyptians and Persians ; and as each state endeavoured to maintain a perfect indepen dence, and many attempting to acquire a superior influ ence, it is very conceivable that their jealousy, rivalship, and continual contention, would strongly influence the arts of architecture and sculpture ; while the insatiable rage for distinction, which pervaded all orders of men, animated, to a particular degree, those artists, who, by their works in architecture and sculpture, expected, and frequently acquired the applause of their countrymen and posterity. The value attached to works of this nature, may be judged of from the city of Ephesus refusing to suffer the temple of Diana to be inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great, although this prince offered to purchase that honour by defraying the whole expence attending its erection ; from the Athenians rejecting a like offer from Pericles, with regard to the splendid and extensive edifices with which he had ornamented Athens. (Ionian .4ntiq. vol. i. c. III.); and from the city of Gnidia refusing to part with one statue,(the Venus of Praxiteles,) although King Nicomedes proposed to free them from tribute if they complied with his request.
Temples appear to have been the only property which these turbulent states could agree to have in common, and this union enabled them to construct edifices of great magnitude and splendour. They had many of this de scription, built and maintained at the expence of confe derated states, and even of all Greece : Such were those at Delphi, Delos, Ephesus, Olympia, Eryx, &c. These temples had territorial revenues, and were enriched by private donations. Being secured by the laws of war, they were banks wherein states, and even individuals, deposited treasure ; and, instead of the priesthood, the management was vested in the magistrates, (Ionian .4ntiq.
vol. ii. Pref. p. x.) The Greek architecture prevailed in the countries where that people extended their influ ence along the coast of Asia. Alexander and his suc cessors introduced it into Egypt, and most probably in the cities he built on his route to India. To the west ward it spread as far as Sicily, Italy, and the south of France.
Besides temples, the Greeks constructed many other public edifices of great magnificence : These were the Forum, Stadium, Theatre, and Tomb. But as these re quire a full and extensive discussion, they will be taken up under their several appellations.
The private dwellings of the Greeks were generally mean ; but, from the description preserved by Vitruvius, a drawing of which, taken front Palladio, is given in Plate CLXI., it appears, that the villas of some of the principal men were extensive and highly decorated; and, by strangers to occupy separate complete suites of apartments, they were contrived for a very perfect in tercourse of society. That this was required in Attica, is easily to be conceived from the great number of stran gers which, for many years, resorted to Athens ; and they would also be necessary in those countries which NVCI'C adjacent to the .Amphictyonie temples. Besides these causes, there can be no doubt but, in the districts which carried on mercantile transactions, such as Athens, and Corinth in Grecia Proper, almost all the cities of Ionia, of Asia, and also among the islands to the west ward of Greece, that the accumulation of wealth would produce effects similar to what takes place in other coun tries, and would distinguish the habitations of its posses sors.
The Greeks appear to have made the greatest pro gress, and constructed the most magnificent of their edi fices, during a period of time commencing with the age of Solon and Pythagoras, and ending with that of Peri cles, being about 300 years. It is worthy of remark, that the period at which architecture began to flourish most in Greece, corresponds precisely with the reign of Psammaticus in Egypt, who encouraged and benefited by the assistance of the Ionian and Carian Greeks, and induced them to establish colonies upon the Nile. Sec Herod. b. ii. Ionian Antiq. vol. ii. chap. v. p. 19.
After the time of Alexander, the Greek manners were blended with those of Asia. The sublime spirit of independence, and high notions of superiority, which had hitherto exalted their characters, and rendered them capable of such unparalleled exertions, if not quite sub dued, was deeply contaminated; and although they long continued to be the instructors of their Roman conquer ors, it is from this xra that the declension of the pure Greek architecture may be dated.