The museum of classical antiquities : being a series of essays on ancient art . t is 18 metres(59 feet). This description, translated into Latin, wouldexactly correspond with the text of Pliny, and would be nearlyidentical with it in respect to the dimensions, except that, fromthe use of the word ])teron^ the tomb of Mausolus must havebeen peripteral, whereas this is pseudo-peripteral. Now, howhave commentators explained the difficulty which exists betweenthe detail measurements given by Pliny and the total dimension(circumference) of the monument? Why, by supposing anarea which never existed,
The museum of classical antiquities : being a series of essays on ancient art . t is 18 metres(59 feet). This description, translated into Latin, wouldexactly correspond with the text of Pliny, and would be nearlyidentical with it in respect to the dimensions, except that, fromthe use of the word ])teron^ the tomb of Mausolus must havebeen peripteral, whereas this is pseudo-peripteral. Now, howhave commentators explained the difficulty which exists betweenthe detail measurements given by Pliny and the total dimension(circumference) of the monument? Why, by supposing anarea which never existed, and of which Pliny does not say oneword, and by giving to the tomb itself a mesquin proportion, inopposition to all authority, which represents it as one of themost gigantic constructions of antiquity. Influenced by theseconsiderations, M. Texier has felt obliged to dissent from theopmion of previous commentators, and, impressed with theappearance of the tombs of the Christian and of Syphax, he hasgiven to the monument of Mausolus a circular, in lieu of aquadrilateral 50 60 10 SO 90 100 MAUSOLEUM AT HALICAENASSUS. 161 By the foregoing notice, it vnR appear that M. Texierproposes a tumulus, girt about Avith a wall, and adorned withthirty-six columns, the total circumference of which shall be411 feet. The height of the pyramid, or cone, would naturallybe equal to the whole lower part of the monument, and so farhe may be said to agree with Pliny. But as he does not refer tothe total height of 140 feet, to the length of the longer side being63 feet, or to the fact of the fronts being shorter than the sides, itwould appear that he regards all these particulars as interpo-lations. Of course he does not even notice Martials epigram,and it would indeed require more than even the lively imagina-tion of a Frenchman, to believe that a tumulus could everappear as though suspended in the heavens. This objection cannot be laid against Mr. Fergussonsdesign * for he makes his intercolu
Size: 1578px × 1584px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcen, booksubjectarchaeology, booksubjectclassicalantiquities
