But, before deliver my judgment, unto which of their Deities this Temple Stoneheng was anciently dedicated by the Romans, I shall give you some customs in force amongst the Ancients, relating the Decorum used by them, in building their particular Temples: whereby, those several opinions seemingly conclusive to whom Stoneheng sacred, may more evidently appear invalid, and my own more apparently probable. Those therefore that endevour the searching out Antiquities of Architecture, must amongst others, especially prescribe to themselves five things to be guided by. viz. The Situation, Aspect, Manner, Form, and Order of the work as in use amongst the Ancients. For, inventing the severall ornaments of Architecture, at first for honour and distinction onely of their Deities, they appropriated to each of them particular situations, precise forms, peculiar Orders, according to the severall qualities, in regard whereof adored by them.
The situation of the Temples to Venus, Mars, Vulcan, they ordained to be chosen without their Cities, as those which moved mens minds to lasciviousnesse, wars, and devastations. Within their Cities they placed the Temples of the Patrons of Chastity, Peace, good Arts: and of such Gods also, to whom the Protection of their Cities committed. To Pallas, Mercury, and Isis the chief Presidents of Artificers, and Merchants, they built Temples near the Market places, or upon the Market places themselves. To Apollo and Bacchus near the Theater. To Hercules near the Cirque or Amphitheater. Unto Æsculapius and Salus, in places most of all others healthfull, and near to pure streams, and waters; because the infirm people, coming out of a pestilent and contagious Aire, to that which was good and healthfull, by drinking those waters might the sooner, and with lesse difficulty be recovered, whereby zeal to those supposed Deities encreased.
The Aspect Hypæthros, mentioned before, of which Stoneheng appears built, was proper only to some of their Gods, as shall be remembred in due time: the other five (needlesse here to name) were indifferently disposed, sometime to one, and sometime to another Deity, as the magnificence of the Temples to be built required, and, as to be made with Portico’s or without.
The Manner, which Vitruvius distinguishes into five kinds, according as the intercolumnes are of five severall proportions, was only so far forth peculiarly appropriated to their Deities, as it was agreeable to the proper Order, otherwise they followed the greatnesse of the Work.
But, to each of them appropriating particular forms of Temples; to some of their Gods, they made them of a round form, to others quadrangular, to others of many angles: some of them having their Temples covered, with roofs over them; others again built uncovered, without any manner of roofs at all: As, our Antiquity Stoneheng.
Lastly, the Order of which they built them, was so diligently observed, according to the peculiar qualities of their Deities, that seldom or never they varied: as in fit place I shall remember. These aforesaid rules also were so firmly observed by the Ancients, that even at first sight the Roman Architects of old were able to judge, to what Deity, this, or that Temple sacred: and the modern Italian Architects, by the ruines of them at this day, give such notable testimonies towards the discovery of them, as are very hardly to be contradicted. Whosoever desires more of this, may read Vitruvius, Leo Baptista Albertus, and other Authors writing of Architecture. That then we may arrive to a degree of certainty unto whom our Stoneheng anciently dedicated; some such Deitie of the Romans is to be found out, in whose honour they built Temples, not only in such situations as this at Stoneheng; but with whole nature or quality the Form and Aspect thereof may be agreeable also; and the Order proper. For, whosoever goes about to enforce other reasons, do as I conceive but beat the air, neither can they reduce this Antiquity to any probable Originall.
To which of the Roman Deities Stoneheng consecrated, are, as I said before, severall opinions. Some presume it sacred to Diana, but upon what ground their conjecture is raised, considering both the Aspect and Manner of this Temple utterly different from those the Ancients used to dedicate to Her, I cannot conceive;Vitr. lib. 3. cap. 1 & 2. for, the Manner of the Temples erected to Diana, was Diastylos, i.e. columnis ampliùs patentibus, made with large and void spaces: the Aspect of that at Ephesus was Dipteros; that at Magnesia Pseudodipteros: which Manner Hermogenes inventing to save expence and labour, though he left out the Order of pillars within, and thereby the Portico came to be more large, yet the Aspect continued still the same. And, as in the Aspect and Manner, so likewise in the Order and Form it’s different: that, at Ephesus aforesaid being of the Ionick Order, the Order peculiarly appropriated to Diana, and quadrangular: of the same Form also, was that at Magnesia aforesaid, and so likewise the Romans built them, as by the now Church of S. John Evangelist at the Latian, or Latine Port, anciently the Temple of Diana; and that in Mount Aventine also,Fab. Cal. the chief of her Temples in Rome, fully appears. The situation of the Temples dedicated to her, was in groves, whence Vitruvius calsVitr. lib. 4. cap. 7. her grovy Diana.
Ecce suburbanæ templum nemorale Dianæ, saith Ovid.
See where Diana’s grovy Temple stands.
In which sort Virgil, Pliny, and other Authors also tell us her Temples were always sited. The Architecture therefore of the Temples to Diana, and this at Stoneheng being so far different, there is no probable reason Stoneheng should be suppos’d dedicated to her.