The fifth volume of the “Antiquities of Athens” is in fact an Appendix to the previous editions, published in the honour of J. Stuart and N. Revett. Five renowned architects and archaeologists, (first of all Ch.R. Cockerell but also W. Kinnard, Th.L. Donaldson, W. Jenkins and W. Railton) present the monuments of Agrigento, Figaleia, Corfu, Messene, Mycenae, Delos, and the ancient theatres of Epidaurus, Dodoni, Syracuse, and other antiquities. As in the previous volumes, detailed explanations come between general views of the monuments and the more detailed representations such as closer views, sections, floor plans, ceiling plans and architectural features.

James Stuart (1713-1788) was a British painter and architect, son of a Scotch sailor. He started painting from a very early age. While still an adolescent, he earned a scholarship for the Society of Arts, where he was able to cultivate his talent in drawing and geometry. In 1741, his siblings aided him to travel to Rome, as he had fervently desired. Stuart walked most of the journey, earning money from occasional jobs during his journey. In Rome, Stuart became acquainted with painter Gavin Hamilton and architects Matthew Brettingham and Nicholas Revett.

British architect and designer Nicholas Revett (1720-1804) met the aforementioned group in 1842, while he was studying painting with Cavaliere Benefiale. In April 1748, the four artists made an excursion on foot to Naples and toured the antiquities. At that time, in their treatise “Proposals for publishing an accurate description of the Antiquities of Athens”, Stuart and Revett first formulated the idea which would lead to their project in Greece. The idea gained the fervent support of the Dilettante Society in Rome, who financed the mission.

Stuart and Revett arrived in Greece in the spring of 1751. They stayed there for about two years and a half, facing a multitude of adversities in their work. They returned to England in 1755. The two worked mainly in Athens and Attica, but also visited Corinth, Thessaloniki and Delphi. Revett measured the monuments and Stuart made the drawings. All the work was completed in situ. Determined to delineate everything in high fidelity, they dug almost to the foundations of the buildings. As they note in their introduction, no element was added to make a more picturesque whole, even the human figures were depicted from nature.

The first volume of “The Antiquities of Athens measured and delineated by James Stuart F.R.S. and F.S.A. and Nicholas Revett Painters and Architects”, was published in 1762, receiving a warm welcome from the British public. The work was a landmark in European classicism. Stuart became famous, was surnamed “Athenian” and elected a member of the Royal Society. Revett, on the other hand, remained relatively obscure, as he interrupted his collaboration with Stuart and sold him his rights to the work. Stuart turned to architecture and designed the first neoclassical buildings in England. Stuart died suddenly in 1788, while preparing the edition of the second volume of the work. Revett continued to participate in archaeological expeditions, always as a member of the Dilettante Society, and also built neoclassical houses. He died aged 84. The four-volume edition of the “The Antiquities of Athens” was completed by other prominent members of the Dilettante Society in 1816 .

More than three hundred drawings, with views and delineations, plans, sections and details of ancient monuments and architectural elements, in exquisitely made copper engravings accompanied by explanatory texts on the use of the monument, archaeological comments and travel impressions, are included in their works. They inaugurated a new era, in which meticulous measurement replaced a generic, often imaginary representation of ancient monuments.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

• 

  Α. Etruscan palmette. Β. Ancient Athenian palmette. C. Acroterion from temple on Aegina. D. Palmette from the Parthenon.

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae: Fig. 1: Section through the frieze and cornice. Fig. 2, 3, 4: represent the section and elevations of the tiles and ante-fixae, which were of marble. [...] Fig. 5: Section of the raking cornice of the pediment. Fig. 6: The ornament of the sima more at large.

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Details of the Ionic order of the interior. Fig. 1: Plan of the one of the attached Ionic columns with the various projections of the mouldings of the base. Fig. 2: Elevation of the preceding figures. [...] Fig. 3: Elevation of the front of the lower frustum and base of the Ionic columns. Fig. 4: Section to the fourth of the original size of the torus of the base, by which is shewn the peculiar section of the bottom of the flute. Fig. 5: Plan of three of the flutes at large. Fig. 6: Capital and upper part of the shaft. Fig. 7: Plan of the flutes at large. Fig. 8: Plan of the top of the capital. Fig. 9: Detail of the apothesis, fillet and astragal. Fig. 10: Perpendicular section through the eye of the volutes.

• 

  Tholos tomb of Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus): Subterranean chamber at Mycenae. Plan of the subterraneous chamber. Fig. 2 represents the plan of the supercilium or architrave over the door. Fig. 3, shews the plan of the same architrave on the step. Conduit and emissary at Tusculum near Rome.

• 

  Tholos tomb of Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus). Details of the front: Subterranean chamber at Mycenae. Details. Fig. 1 is of green marble, and still remains on the spot, immediately outside the avenue leading to the door. Fig. 2. Elevation of ditto, with part of the shaft of the column. Fig. 3. Detail of part of the ornament of the base developed at large. Fig. 4: Small fragment supposed to belong to the capital. Fig. 5: Part of the ornament of the shaft of column developed at large. Fig. 6: Plan of the upper part of the shaft. Fig. 7: Small fragment of white marble. Fig. 8: Small fragment of white marble, in the restoration applied as the parapet of the wall. Fig. 9: Fragment of green marble. Fig. 10: Fragment of red marble. The angle produced by two of the sides, corresponds precisely with the angles formed by the lines of the opening above the entrance, and which coincidence has therefore afforded authority for the introduction in the restored elevation of a basso-relievo.

• 

  Ancient theatre of Epidaurus: Theatre in the grove of Aesculapius near Epidaurus. Fig. 1: Plan of the diazoma. Fig. 2: Elevation and section of the diazoma and some of the seats above and below it [...] Fig. 3: The coping to the diverging enclosure wall of the coilon, which followed the inclined line of the wall. Fig. 4: Application of a fragment found within the sacred precinct. The parts restored are the plinths, columns and architrave; the cornice and pedimental ornament are of one piece of marble beautifully sculptured in low relief, and now much destroyed. Fig. 5 and 6: Plan and section of a reservoir or fountain, built of fine large blocks of stone covered with a thick and strong cement.

• 

  Ancient theatre of Dodoni: Fig. 1: Plan of the Theatre. Fig. 2: Elevation and section of the lower diazoma; the section in the corner shews more at large the profile of the small detail AA in the elevation. Fig. 3: Elevation and section of the upper diazoma. Fig. 4: Section through the uppermost corridor.

• 

  The entasis of various columns. Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the Portico of the Propylaea at Athens. Fig. 2: Do. Do. of the North Wing of the Propylaea. Fig. 3: Do. Do. of the Temple of Theseus. Fig. 4: Do. Do. of the Temple of Minerva, or Parthenon Fig. 5: Do. Do. Of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates.

• 

  Temple of Kardaki, Corfu. Details of the Order. Fig. 1: Elevation of the capital of the column and a section of the entablature restored from existing fragments, with the exception of the frieze. Fig. 2: Plan of the capital. Fig. 3: Plan of the fluting of the upper diameter, full size. Fig. 4: Shews the construction of the tympanum. Fig. 5: Shews the thickness of the tympanum stones. Fig. 6: Section of the end on one of the terra cotta tiles with which the roof was covered, full size.

• 

  Temple of Kardaki, Corfu: Fig. 1: Section of the capital, half the full size, Fig. 2: Section fo the moulding of the corona, half the full size. Fig, 3: Section of the internal moulding of the architrave, half the full size. Fig. 4 and 5: Elevation and section of an ornament supposed to have been in the frieze of the ambulatory, full size. Fig. 6: Section of the ornament in the true position.

• 

  Temple of Kardaki, Corfu: Fig. 1: Transverse section of the temple as it now remains. Fig. 2: Section from east to west. Fig. 3: Section and plan of a Doric capital found in a ruined church within the French lines. It has very much the character of the capital of the pseudodipteral and hexastyle temples at Paestum.

• 

  Temple of Hephaestus (Thiseion), Athens. Details of the Capital of the Opisthodomos: Fig. 1: Elevation of the capital to a scale of two inches to a foot. 2. Section of the same to half the full size. 3. The annulets to the full size.

• 

  Doric entablature from the north side of the wall of the Acropolis of Athens: Elevation, section plans and bottom view.

• 

  Frontispiece: Portrait of James Stuart.

• 

  Title page. Altar from Ephesus, today at the British Museum.

• 

  Title page of the first part of the book. Tetradrachm from Agrigento, Sicily. Obv. Skylla.

• 

  Plans of the temples of Zeus and Heracles at Agrigento, Sicily. Map of the site.

• 

  Plan of the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento.

• 

  Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily: Interior order of the cella.

• 

  View of the ruins of the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily.

• 

  Restoration of the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily. On the left the Temple of Concordia and on the right the Temple of Athena.

• 

  Transverse section of the temple of Zeus at Agrigento.

• 

  Views, plans, and section plans of various architectural features of the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily.

• 

  Front view and plan of the Temple of Heracles at Agrigento, Sicily. View of column and entablature. Section plan of moulding.

• 

  The Propylaea from the west. The Ottoman commander of the city garrison (Disdar aga), with a dervish. On the right, a Greek who is held prisoner.

• 

  Pnyx. The ancient place of Parliament of the Athenians.

• 

  View of Pnyx Hill from Piraeus.

• 

  Fig. 1. The Cave of Heracles on Mount Cynthus, Delos. Fig. 2. Fragment of the leg of Apollo's statue from Delos. Fig. 3. Fragment from relief from Delos. Fig. 4-15. Fragments from Delos. Fig. 16-19. Fragment from Rineia.

• 

  Column capital from Persepolis. Coin from Cilicia, showing a bull.

• 

  From the monument of the Bulls on Delos: 1. Plan of column capital with bulls' heads. 2: Triglyph with bulls' heads (reconstruction). 3: Side view of triglyph with bulls' heads. 4: Triglyph from the same monument. 5: Side view of column capital. 6: Reconstruction of the monument's colonnade. 7, 8: Elevation and section of column from the colonnade.

• 

  North east view of the temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, near Phigalia.

• 

  Plan of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.

• 

  Elevation of the the front of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae (reconstruction).

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Details of the Doric capitals. Fig. 1: Capital of the Doric order of the peristyles to a larger scale. [...] Fig. 3: Annulets to the full size. Fig. 4: In this ouline are shewn the general principles which appear, on most occasions, to have directed the Greeks in the composition of their Doric capitals. Fig. 5: Capital of the pronaos and posticum. Fig. 6: Details of the annulets and necking of the less order to the full size. Fig. 7: Capital of the antae with the architrave of the order of the pronaos.

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae: Longitudinal section through the posticum and opisthodomus of the temple.

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Corinthian order and other details: Fig. 1: Base of the Corinthian order. Fig. 2: Profile of the torus traced from the original. [...]

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae: The Lacunaria.

• 

  Tholos tomb of Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus): Entrance.

• 

  Plan of ancient theater.

• 

  Ancient Theater of Syracuse. Details: Fig. 1 represents the plan of the steps leading from the diazoma to the cuneus. Fig. 2: Section and elevation of ditto, thus brought together in order to explain more clearly the relative situation of the parts Fig. 3: Section through the podium of the diazoma, with the cornice restored.

• 

  Terracotta antefix, in the possession of Mr. Gropius, at Athens, and marble fragments from Delphi.

• 

  Temple of Hephaestus (Thiseion), Athens: Plan of the lacunaria.

• 

  Elevations, section plans and plans of funerary monuments from Alinda (today Karpuzlu), Asia Minor.

• 

  Elevation, section and plan of tower of fortress at Argolis (on the route to Tripoli). Section of tower at the Arcadian Gate of ancient Messene. Elevations and plans of two other towers.

• 

  Portrait of Nicholas Revett.

• 

  Atlas from the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily.

• 

  Temple of Zeus at Agrigento, Sicily: Longitudinal section.

• 

  Outer peristyle of the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento Sicily: Fig. 1: View of crepidoma, base of the column, column, capitals and entablature. Fig. 2. Section plan of crepidoma, base of the column, capitals and entablature. Fig. 5. Plan of column.

• 

  View of the Pnyx. Plan and section plan of the bema, the orator's podium. Plan of the site of the Pnyx.

• 

  Fig. 1-4: Funerary steles from Athens. Fig. 5. Funerary lekythos.

• 

  Relief with palmettes and lotus at the annulets of the Ionian capitals of Erechtheion, at the Acropolis of Athens.

• 

  Comparison of peristyles from several Doric temples, showing the corner triglyph of each structure, in reference to the architectural question known as Doric corner conflict. A: From the remains of temple close to Delphi, possibly the Tempe of Athena Pronaia. B: From temple at Heraclea, Asia Minor. C, D: From the temples at Priene. E: From Halicarnassus. F: From the Doric Stoa of the ancient Agora of Athens, as drawn by Stuart G: From Selinunte, Sicily. H: From Paestum I: From Knidus.

• 

  Temple of Apollo at Bassae: Plans of the shaft, capital of the column, entablature. Section plan and bottom view of the entablature.

• 

  Arcadian Gate of ancient Messene: Fig. 1. Plan of the gate. Fig. 2. View of the interior. Fig. 3. and Fig. 4. Elevation and section plan of the niche at the interior. Fig. 5. and Fig. 6. Geisa of the niche. Fig. 7. Plan of tower. Fig. 8. Reconstruction of the interior gate.

• 

  Tholos tomb of Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus): Section of tholos.

• 

  Tholos tomb of Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus): Reconstruction.

• 

  Ancient theatre of Epidaurus: Plan.

• 

  Plan of the ancient theater at Syracuse, Sicily.

• 

  Marble stele in the possession of Mr. Gropius, Austrian ambassador, at Athens.

• 

  Pilaster capitals from Stratonice and Halicarnassus.

• 

  Capitals from Halicarnassus, Teos, and temple of Apollo at Didyma, near Miletus.

• 

  Plan of the Temple of Kardaki, Corfu. A denotes two wells.

• 

  Temple of Kardaki, Corfu: Elevation of the front towards the sea.

• 

  The entasis of various columns. Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the North Portico of the Erechtheion. Fig. 2: Entasis of the columns of the East Portico of that Temple. Fig. 3: Entasis of the columns of the Temple of Hephaestus (Thiseion). Fig. 4: Entasis of the columns of the Parthenon. Fig. 5: Section of the capital of the centre anta of the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllus.

• 

  Ancient bronze helmets in Corinthian style from Patras.

• 

  Ancient vase from Athenian tomb.