Architecture, classic and early Christian (1888) (14586055599)

Identifier: architectureclas00smituoft (find matches)
Title: Architecture, classic and early Christian
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Smith, Thomas Roger, d 1903 Slater, John
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Sampson Low
Contributing Library: Kelly - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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m the decay of Assyrianand Persian cities; and temples, theatres, and places ofpublic assembly are the chief, almost the only remains ofarchitecture in Greece. A strong contrast between the buildings of differentancient nations rises also frum the differing point of viewfor which they Avere designed. Thus, in the tombs and,to a large extent, the temples of the Egyptians, we findstructures chiefly planned for internal effect; that is tosay, intended to be seen by those admitted to the sacredprecincts, but only to a limited extent appealing to theadmiration of those outside. The buildings of the Greeks,on the other hand, were chiefly designed to please thosewho examined them from without; and though no doubtsome of them, the theatres especially, were from theirvery nature planned for interior effect, by far the greatestworks which Greek art produced were the exteriors ofthe temples. The works of the Eomans, and, following them, thoseof almost all Western Chiistian nations, were designed
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Fin 5—PaKT of toe EXTERIOa OF THE COLOSSEUM, IlOME. (NoW IS RUISS.) IXTRODUCTION. 11 to unite external ami internal effect; but in many casesexternal Avas evidently most sought after, and, in theJSorth of Europe, many expedients—such, for example,as towers, high-pitched roofs, and steeples—were intro-duced into architecture with the express intention ofincreasing external effect. On the other hand, the Easternstyles, both Mohammedan and Christian, especially whenpractised in sunny climates, show in many cases a com-l)arative disregard of external effect, and that tlieir archi-tects lavished most of their resources on the interiors oftheir buildings. Passing allusions have been made to the influence ofclimate on architecture; and the student whose attentionhas been once called to this subject will find manyinteresting traces of tins influence in the designs ofbuildings erected in various countries. Where the powerof the sun is great, flat terraced roofs, which help to keepbuildin