but such offsets, although sometimes
existing, have no obvious connection with the passage in Vitruvius.
C. Boetticher (1863) and more recently Durm have denied the original
intention of the curves and ascribe them to settlement, a
supposition which hardly accords with the observed facts. Reber, in
the note on this passage in his translation of Vitruvius (1865),
thinks the scamilli were sloping offsets on the stylobate to cause
the inclination of the columns, but admits that nothing of the kind
has been found in the remains so far examined. It may be added that
this is at variance with the statement of the purpose of the
scamilli which Vitruvius gives.

Assuming, as I think we must, that the horizontal curvature of the
stylobate in such buildings as the Parthenon was intended and
carefully planned, Burnouf's explanation fits the case precisely
and makes this passage of Vitruvius straightforward and simple.
This can be said of no other explanation, for all the others leave
the passage obscure and more or less nonsensical. Durm's attempt to
refer the passage to the case of the temple with a podium which has
just been spoken of by Vitruvius is somewhat forced, or at least
unnecessary. Clearly the passage refers to stylobates in general;
but Reber also so translates and punctuates as to make the use of
the "scamilli impares" refer only to the case of temples built in
the Roman manner with the podium. His resulting explanation still
leaves the passage obscure and unsatisfactory. One may finally
refer to the ingenious but improbable explanation of Choisy, who
translates it echelons impairs, and explains them as offsets
arranged according to the odd numbers, _nombres impairs_, i. e.,
offsets varying at equal intervals in the proportion of 1, 3, 5, 7,
9, etc., and which he claims was applied also to the entasis of
columns.

H. L. WARREN.

INDEX

Abacus, 92, 106, 110, 122.

[Greek: Abaton], 56.

Abdera, 212, 269.

Acanthus pattern, origin of, 104.

Accius, 255.

Acoustics, of the site of a theatre, 153 _f._

Acroteria, 96.

Aequians have springs which produce goitre, 239.

Aeruca (verdigris), 219.

Aeschylus, 198.

Aesculapius, proper site for temple of, 15;
temple of, at Tralles, 198.

Aetna, 47.

Africa, 240.

Agatharcus, 198.

Agesistratus