Archimedes Texts

155
rent Columns and Statues, in making an Image
of that God which was continually turning
round to face the Sun. And there was some
what yet more wonderful than this in the Tem
ple of Diana at Ephesus; which was, Cupid's
Dart hanging upon nothing. For such kind
of Ornaments no other certain Rule can be
given, but that they be set in decent Places,
where they may be viewed with Wonder and
Reverence.

Of the first Original of Basiliques, their Porticoes and different Members, and
wherein they differ from Temples.

It is certain that at first Basiliques were no
thing but Places where the Magistrates used
to meet to administer Justice under Shelter,
and the Tribunal was added to give the greater
Air of Majesty to the Structure. Afterwards
in order to enlarge them, the principal Roof
being found not sufficient, Porticoes were add
ed on each Side, first a single, and in Time a
double one. Others across the Tribunal made
a Nave, which we shall call the Justiciary Nave,
as being the Place for the Concourse of the
Notaries, Sollicitors and Advocates, and joined
this Nave to the other Isles after the Manner of
the Letter T. The Porticoes without were
supposed to be added afterwards for the Con
venience of Servants: So that the Basilique
consists of Naves or Isles, and of Porticoes: But
as the Basilique seems to partake of the Na
ture of the Temple, it has claimed most of the
Ornaments belonging to the Temple, but still
in such a Manner as to seem rather to imitate
than to pretend to equal it in Embellishments.
It is raised above the Level of the Ground, like
the Temple, but an eighth Part less; that so
it may yield to the Temple, as to the more
honourable Structure: And indeed none of its
other Ornaments must be allowed the same So
lemnity as those used in a Temple. Moreover
there is this further Difference between the
Basilique and the Temple, that the Isles in the
former must be clear and open, and its Win
dows persectly lightsome, upon account of the
sometimes tumultuous Crowd of Litigants, and
for the Conveniency of examining and sub
scribing to Writings; and it would be very
proper, if it could be so contrived, that such as
came to seek either their Clients or their Pa
trons, might immediately find them out; For
which Reason the Columns ought to be set at
a greater Distance from each other; and there
fore those that support Arches are the most
proper, though such as bear Architraves are
not to be wholly rejected. Thus we may de
fine the Basilique to be a clear spacious Walk
covered with a Roof, with Porticoes or Isles on
the Inside; because that which is without Isles
seems to me to have more in it of the Court
of Justice or Senate-house, whereof we shall
speak in due Time, than of the Basilique. The
Platform of the Basilique should be twice as
long as broad; and the chief Isle, which is that
in the Middle, and the cross one, which we
have called the Justiciary, should be entirely

clear and free for Walkers. If it is to have on
ly one single Isle on each Side, without the
Justiciary Nave, you may order your Propor
tions as follows: Divide the Breadth of the
Platform into nine Parts, whereof five of them
must be allowed to the middle Isle, and two to
each Portico or side Isle. The Length too
must be divided into nine Parts, one of which
must be given to the Sweep of the Tribunal,
and two to the Breadth or Entrance into that

Tribunal. But if besides the side Isle you
would have a Justiciary Nave, then divide the
Breadth of the Platform only into four Parts,
giving two to the middle Isle, and one to each
side Isle; and divide the Length as follows:
Give one twelfth Part of it to the Sweep of the
Tribunal, two twelfths and an half to the
Breadth of its Entrance, and let the Breadth of
the Justiciary Nave be the sixth Part of the

Length of the whole Platform. But if you are
to have not only the Justiciary Nave, but double
Isles besides; then divide the Breadth of the
Platform into ten Parts, giving four to the
middle Isle, and three on each Side to be di
vided equally for the side Isles, and divide the
Length into twenty Parts, giving one and a
half to the Sweep of the Tribunal, and three
and one third to its Entrance, and allowing on
ly three Parts to the Breadth of the Justiciary
Nave. The Walls of the Basilique need not
be so thick as those of the Temple; because