We have entered more into detail respecting the ar chitecture of Palmyra and Balbec, because it is of singu lar magnificence at this extremity of the Roman empire ; and having been faithfully measured and delineated, the different edifices afford accurate and perfect specimens of the style of the age in which they were constructed.
it appears nearly certain, that the temple of the Sun of Balhec was built under the Roman emperor £lius Auto ninus Pius; and not only the other temple adjacent there to, hot the court and temple of the Sun at Palmyra, hav ing so strict a resemblance in their general forms and sculptured ornaments, that we cannot help attributing the whole to the same people and period.
Our limits not admitting of more specimens of the Roman oblong temples, we must therefore proceed to those which were of a circular form, the most celebrated of which was the Pantheon at Rome. It has been gene rally attributed wholly to Agrippa; but from careful re search, (see Maurice's Indian Antiquities,) Desgodctl asserts, that the body of the edifice is of much earlier origin ; and that Agrippa only new modelled and embel lished the inside, and added the magnificent portico. Dcsgodetz, indeed, gives a Plate, shelving the state of it previous to the time of Agrippa; but the Plate and description we shall insert in this work, represent the edifice in its improved condition. Dcsgodetz slims no architectural orders on the outside of the circular body of the edifice ; whereas, Montfaucon gives an elevation from La Freri, in which there arc, first, a high base ment, then a regular Corinthian order, and upon that a regular composite order. We shall, however, follow Desgodetz. The dimensions are in French feet. Sce Plate CLX I.
The body of the temple is circular. The inside dia meter, taken on the ground floor, exclusive of the cha pel recesses, is 133 feet; the thickness of the outer wall is 19 feet 13 inches; making the diameter of the outer circle 171 feet 3 inches. The height from the floor to the level of the springing of the dome is 65 feet 93 in ches. The dome being semicircular, would, if complete, rise half the diameter. The opening at the top, however, takes something from this ; but is compensated in the extension of the diameter, by the upper order receding from the vertical face of that below; so that the rise may be taken at half the diameter on the ground plan, viz. 66
feet 6 inches ; making the whole height from the pave ment to the top 132 feet 33 inches, or very nearly equal to the inside diameter.
Around the lower area there are seven chapels, in the thickness of the walls, each 27 feet wide, except that opposite the great entrance, which is 28 feet 93 inches wide. The three on each side have each two columns in the line of the entrance; two of them are square, and the middle one circular. That opposite the entrance is also circular, with a semicircular niche head. It has no columns in it, but one projecting without the general line of the walls, opposite to the pilasters on each side of the recess. The pilasters, on the side of the six chapel recesses, are square on their plan. The line which passes through their middle tends to the centre of the temple, as do the faces of the semi-pilasters in the inner angles of the four square chapel recesses. Between each of those chapels there is a tabernacle, each with pvo iso lated columns and pilasters behind them, supporting al ternately pointed and circular pediments. In the thick ness of the wall there are void spaces, three tiers over each other, vaulted like niches. The lower ones were entered from the outside of the building ; these have been made to lessen the quantity of the solid work, which would otherwise have been very great.
The Corinthian fluted columns and pilasters, which compose the lower interstices, stand immediately on the pavement. They are 3 feet 5 inches diameter, and 32 • /I feet inches high; the entablature is 7 feet in ches; making the whole order 40 feet 2 inches. The second order stands upon a high pedestal, and has a large cornice, but the pilasters, which are composite, are slender. In this attic there are 14 windows, but the temple is lighted chiefly by the great entrance, and the circular opening at the top of the dome, which is 27 feet in diameter. The dome has 28 vertical bands, which, besides the upper and lower margins, are crossed hori zontally by four bands, which composes 28x5=140 square- pannels, deeply recessed by degrees or square fillets. The entablature of the upper order passes quite round the edifice without any break; and the lower enta blature is only interrupted at the great entrance and cha pel recess opposite to it.