To return, however, to the temple. It is a tetrastyle, with a noble portico, of the Corinthian order. The columns are fluted, and with one exception, monoliths. The dimensions of the buildings, as given in Bruce’s plan and elevation, are as follows:—
| Ft. | in. | lines. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width of portico | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Depth of portico | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Distance between bases of central columns | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Distance between bases of first and second columns on each side of front | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| From first to second column on each side | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| From second column to wall of cella | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Width of base of staircase | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Height of base of column | 2 | 9 | 6 |
| „ shaft | 26 | 6 | 0 |
| „ capital | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| „ architrave | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| „ frieze | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| „ cornice | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Height of pediment | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Apex of pediment to apex of cornice | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Height of stairs | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| Height of door of cella to bottom of lintel | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Height of lintel | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Height of cornice | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Width of door of cella, clear opening | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Diameter of base of column | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Diameter of shaft at base | 3 | 5 | 9 |
In saying that the ornamentation of this temple was the richest he ever saw, Bruce was no doubt right, especially if he alluded to the monuments still retaining a certain purity of style, which he had met with in Africa; but in Italy the temples of the latter half of the second century were generally most highly decorated. In the case of this temple the frieze has an inscription, but otherwise it is without ornaments of any kind. The architrave is divided, as usual, into three bands, but the mouldings are simple, without oves, pearls, or other ornaments. On the other hand, the cornice is highly decorated, and the pediment is enriched with a grand piece of sculpture.
Bruce, evidently misled by the occurrence of the letters NERVAE in the inscription on the frieze, imagined that these alluded to the Emperor Nerva, and inferred that the temple had been built by Hadrian, and that the sculpture, which represented a male figure on the back of an eagle, was
The apotheosis of his benefactor Trajan, by an angel flying with him to heaven.
Sir Grenville Temple’s supposition, that it was intended to represent the rape of Ganymede by the eagle of Jupiter, is much more likely to be correct.[207]
On the frieze of the order is an inscription, now almost effaced, but which has been recorded by Bruce more fully than by subsequent travellers. It is as follows:—
IOVI . OPTIMO . M[AXIMO . ET . MI]NERVAE[208]
AVG. SACRVM . PRO[SALVTE] . . . M . . . .
ANTONINI . . . . . [V]ERI . AVG. ARMENICO . R