THE MAISON CARREETHE MAISON CARREE

THE MAISON CARREETHE MAISON CARREE

is situated in the French town of Nimes.is situated in the French town of Nimes. name means ‘squared house’. name means ‘squared house’. but the house isn’t actually square. but the house isn’t actually square. built in the early years of the first century built in the early years of the first century

AD.AD. the temple was built by Marcus Agrippa. the temple was built by Marcus Agrippa. the temple originally sat in the middle of a the temple originally sat in the middle of a

2000m2000m22 sanctuary. sanctuary.

Originally there was a Originally there was a gilded bronze inscription on gilded bronze inscription on the frieze over the entrance the frieze over the entrance porch.The inscription said: porch.The inscription said:

“To Gaius Caesar, son of “To Gaius Caesar, son of Augustus, consul, to Lucias Augustus, consul, to Lucias Caesar, son of Augustus, Caesar, son of Augustus, consul designate/Leaders consul designate/Leaders

of the Youth”of the Youth”..

The design of the temple shows the The design of the temple shows the Hellenised ItalicHellenised Italic

tradition of temple architecture.tradition of temple architecture.ETRUSCAN TEMPLESETRUSCAN TEMPLES

cella fronted by a deep cella fronted by a deep porch.porch.

strong frontal aspect to strong frontal aspect to the temple.the temple.

raised on a high raised on a high podium.podium.

GREEK TEMPLESGREEK TEMPLES use of stone (local use of stone (local

limestone).limestone). style of columns and style of columns and

mouldings.mouldings.

the front of temple has 6 columns. the front of temple has 6 columns. two more free-standing two more free-standing

columns along the east columns along the east and west sides in a second and west sides in a second and third row. and third row.

the columns are: the columns are: – Corinthian, Corinthian, – fluted, fluted, – tall and slender.tall and slender.

What is What is pseudo-peripertal?pseudo-peripertal?= the appearance that there is a = the appearance that there is a

portico along the sides.portico along the sides.The east and west The east and west sides are surrounded sides are surrounded by a colonnade of by a colonnade of engaged columns engaged columns which encircle the which encircle the cult room (cella).cult room (cella).

the pediment was left bare.the pediment was left bare. the entablature consists of the entablature consists of

an architrave and a frieze an architrave and a frieze which is decorated with an which is decorated with an acanthus scroll design on acanthus scroll design on all but the north side. all but the north side.

the ceiling under the porch the ceiling under the porch has coffers for decoration.has coffers for decoration.

there is a deep entrance there is a deep entrance porch. porch.

the temple is entered via a the temple is entered via a broad 15 steps staircase.broad 15 steps staircase.

the podium is 2.88m highthe podium is 2.88m high

AND THE INSIDE … ?AND THE INSIDE … ?

The interior is modern and we have no way The interior is modern and we have no way of knowing what it originally looked like.of knowing what it originally looked like.

Sorry.Sorry.

THE ENDTHE END