CHAP. IV.
Of the Parts, Forms and Figures of Temples and their Chapels, and how theſe
latter ſhould be diſtributed.
latter ſhould be diſtributed.
The Parts of the Temple are two; the
Portico and the Inſide: But they differ
very much from one another in both theſe Re
ſpects; for ſome Temples are round, ſome
ſquare, and others, laſtly, have many Sides. It
is manifeſt that Nature delights principally in
round Figures, ſince we find that moſt Things
which are generated, made or directed by Na
ture, are round. Why need I inſtance in the
Stars, Trees, Animals, the Neſts of Birds, or
the like Parts of the Creation, which ſhe has
choſen to make generally round? We find too
that Nature is ſometimes delighted with Figures
of ſix Sides; for Bees, Hornets, and all other
Kinds of Waſps have learnt no other Figure
for building their Cells in their Hives, but the
Hexagon. The Area for a round Temple
ſhould be marked out exactly circular. The
Ancients, in almoſt all their quadrangular
Temples made the Platform half as long again
as it was broad. Some made it only a third
Part of the Breadth longer; and others would
have it full thrice the Breadth long. But in
all theſe quadrangular Platforms the greateſt
Blemiſh is for the Corners to be not exactly
rectangular. The Polygons uſed by the An
cients were either of ſix, eight, or ſometimes
ten Sides. The Angles of ſuch Platforms
ſhould all terminate within a Circle, and indeed
from a Circle is the beſt Way of deducing
them; for the Semidiameter of the Circle will
make one of the ſix Sides which can be con
tained in that Circle. And if from the Cen
ter you draw Right-lines to cut each of thoſe
ſix Sides exactly in the Middle, you will plainly
ſee what Method you are to take to draw a
Platform of twelve Sides, and from that of
twelve Sides you may make one of four, or
eight, as in Fig. B. C. However here is an
other eaſier Way of drawing a Platform of eight
Sides. Having drawn an equilateral and right
angled Square together with its Diagonals from
Corner to Corner; from the Point where thoſe
Diagonals interſect each other in the Middle, I
turn a Circle, opening the Compaſſes ſo wide
as to take in all the Sides of the Square; then
I divide one of thoſe Sides into two equal Parts,
and through the Point of that Diviſion draw a
Line from the Center to the Circumference of
the Circle D, and thus from the Point where
that Line touches the Circumference to the
Angle of the Square, will be exactly one of the
eight Sides which that Circle will contain.
We may alſo draw a Platform of ten Sides by
means of a Circle, in the following Manner:
Draw two Diameters in the Circle, interſecting
each other at Right-angles, and then divide
the Half of either of thoſe Diameters into two
equal Parts, and from that Diviſion draw a
ſtraight Line upwards aſlant to the Head of
the other Diameter; and if from this ſlant
Line you take off the Quantity of the fourth
Part of one of the Diameters, the Remainder of
that Line will be one of the ten Sides which
can be contained in that Circle, as you may
ſee in Letter E. To Temples it is uſual to
joyn Chapels; to ſome, more; to others fewer.
In quadrangular Temples it is very unuſual to
make above one, and that is placed at the
Head, ſo as to be ſeen immediately by thoſe
that come in at the Door. If you have a Mind
to make more Chapels on the Sides, they will
not be amiſs in thoſe quadrangular Temples
which are twice as long as broad; and there
we ſhould not make more than one in each
Side: Though if you do make more, it will
be better to make an odd Number on each Side
than an even one. In round Platforms, and
alſo in thoſe of many Faces (if we may ven
ture ſo to call them) we may very conveniently
make a greater Number of Chapels, according
to the Number of thoſe Faces, one to each, or one
with and one without alternately, anſwering to
each other. In round Platforms ſix Chapels,
or even eight will do extremely well. In Plat
forms of ſeveral Faces you muſt be ſure to let
the Corners be exactly anſwering and ſuiting
to one another. The Chapels themſelves muſt
be made either Parts of a rectangled Square, or
of a Circle. For the ſingle Chapel at the Head
of a Temple, the ſemicircular Form is much
the handſomeſt; and next to that is the rect
angular. But if you are to make a good Num
ber of Chapels, it will certainly be much more
Portico and the Inſide: But they differ
very much from one another in both theſe Re
ſpects; for ſome Temples are round, ſome
ſquare, and others, laſtly, have many Sides. It
is manifeſt that Nature delights principally in
round Figures, ſince we find that moſt Things
which are generated, made or directed by Na
ture, are round. Why need I inſtance in the
Stars, Trees, Animals, the Neſts of Birds, or
the like Parts of the Creation, which ſhe has
choſen to make generally round? We find too
that Nature is ſometimes delighted with Figures
of ſix Sides; for Bees, Hornets, and all other
Kinds of Waſps have learnt no other Figure
for building their Cells in their Hives, but the
Hexagon. The Area for a round Temple
ſhould be marked out exactly circular. The
Ancients, in almoſt all their quadrangular
Temples made the Platform half as long again
as it was broad. Some made it only a third
Part of the Breadth longer; and others would
have it full thrice the Breadth long. But in
all theſe quadrangular Platforms the greateſt
Blemiſh is for the Corners to be not exactly
rectangular. The Polygons uſed by the An
cients were either of ſix, eight, or ſometimes
ten Sides. The Angles of ſuch Platforms
ſhould all terminate within a Circle, and indeed
from a Circle is the beſt Way of deducing
them; for the Semidiameter of the Circle will
make one of the ſix Sides which can be con
tained in that Circle. And if from the Cen
ter you draw Right-lines to cut each of thoſe
ſix Sides exactly in the Middle, you will plainly
ſee what Method you are to take to draw a
Platform of twelve Sides, and from that of
twelve Sides you may make one of four, or
eight, as in Fig. B. C. However here is an
other eaſier Way of drawing a Platform of eight
Sides. Having drawn an equilateral and right
angled Square together with its Diagonals from
Corner to Corner; from the Point where thoſe
Diagonals interſect each other in the Middle, I
turn a Circle, opening the Compaſſes ſo wide
as to take in all the Sides of the Square; then
I divide one of thoſe Sides into two equal Parts,
and through the Point of that Diviſion draw a
Line from the Center to the Circumference of
the Circle D, and thus from the Point where
that Line touches the Circumference to the
Angle of the Square, will be exactly one of the
eight Sides which that Circle will contain.
We may alſo draw a Platform of ten Sides by
means of a Circle, in the following Manner:
Draw two Diameters in the Circle, interſecting
each other at Right-angles, and then divide
the Half of either of thoſe Diameters into two
equal Parts, and from that Diviſion draw a
ſtraight Line upwards aſlant to the Head of
the other Diameter; and if from this ſlant
Line you take off the Quantity of the fourth
Part of one of the Diameters, the Remainder of
that Line will be one of the ten Sides which
can be contained in that Circle, as you may
ſee in Letter E. To Temples it is uſual to
joyn Chapels; to ſome, more; to others fewer.
In quadrangular Temples it is very unuſual to
make above one, and that is placed at the
Head, ſo as to be ſeen immediately by thoſe
that come in at the Door. If you have a Mind
to make more Chapels on the Sides, they will
not be amiſs in thoſe quadrangular Temples
which are twice as long as broad; and there
we ſhould not make more than one in each
Side: Though if you do make more, it will
be better to make an odd Number on each Side
than an even one. In round Platforms, and
alſo in thoſe of many Faces (if we may ven
ture ſo to call them) we may very conveniently
make a greater Number of Chapels, according
to the Number of thoſe Faces, one to each, or one
with and one without alternately, anſwering to
each other. In round Platforms ſix Chapels,
or even eight will do extremely well. In Plat
forms of ſeveral Faces you muſt be ſure to let
the Corners be exactly anſwering and ſuiting
to one another. The Chapels themſelves muſt
be made either Parts of a rectangled Square, or
of a Circle. For the ſingle Chapel at the Head
of a Temple, the ſemicircular Form is much
the handſomeſt; and next to that is the rect
angular. But if you are to make a good Num
ber of Chapels, it will certainly be much more