1rent 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 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.
CHAP. XIV.
Of the firſt Original of Baſiliques, their Porticoes and different Members, and
wherein they differ from Temples.
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
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
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