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Idea and Visuality in Hellenistic Architecture 563 HESPERIA 76 (2OO7) IDEA AND VISUALITY Pages SSSS9S IN HELLENISTIC ARCHITECTURE A Geometric Analysis of Temple A of the Asklepieion at Kos ABSTRACT uses The author analytic geometry and AutoCAD software to analyze a the plan of Temple A of the Asklepieion at Kos, revealing circumscribed as Pythagorean triangle the basis for the plans design.This methodology and counter its results earlier doubts about the application of geometry to Doric an temple design and suggest the existence of alternative to the grid-based approach characteristic of Hellenistic temples of the Ionic order. Appre a ciation of the geometric system underlying the plan of Temple A leads to consideration of the role ofvisuality inHellenistic architecture, characterized as manner here the inwhich abstract ideas shared by architects and scholars conditioned viewing and influenced the design process. on was a The Asklepieion the island of Kos healing sanctuary and medi some cal school of great importance throughout antiquity.1 It lies 4 km southwest of the ancient on a polis of Kos, built terraced slope commanding views sea. impressive of the In its completed state, the complex consisted of terraces three separate connected by stairways, each supporting structures from various periods (Figs. 1,2).2 the of By middle the 3rd century b.c., the sanctuary's three terraces were a constructed.3 On the lower terrace, ?-shaped Doric stoa with ad rooms was to an x m joining built enclose approximately 47 93 space.4Major architectural on terrace an a features the middle included altar, replaced by more monumental version in the following century, and temples dedicated 1.1 wish to thank Andrew Stewart erous of this and see encouragement project opment dating of the site, for his constructive criticisms and for an initial of Schazmann following presentation and Herzog 1932, p. 75; an interest in at an taking my arguments, my arguments Art History and Gruben 1986, pp. 401-410; 2001, which are all the for our con Mediterranean Collo stronger Archaeology pp. 440-449. versations. I am indebted to Fikret at the of 3. Schazmann quium University California, and Herzog 1932, andDiane Favro for their de in All Yeg?l Berkeley, April 2005. drawings pp. 72-75, pis. 37,38. voted attention to this from and are own. 4. on study photographs my A centrally placed propylon its to I am also as inception completion. 2. For the history of the Koan north wing served the monumental to Erich Gruen and Craw see to grateful Asklepieion, Sherwin-White 1978, entrance the sanctuary; Schazmann ford H. Greenewalt for their 345-346. For the devel Jr. gen pp. 340-342, and Herzog 1932, pp. 47-48. ? The American School of Classical Studies at Athens 556 JOHN R. SENSENEY 1. at view of Figure Asklepieion Kos, the middle and lower terraces from the upper terrace, with the remains of the b.c. of 3rd-century Temple Asklepios (left), the 2nd-century b.c. restoration of the altar (center), and the a.d. 2nd-3rd-century restoration of the Temple of Apollo (right) to see Asklepios and Apollo (Temples B and C, respectively; Fig. I).5 On a the upper terrace, TT-shaped stoa of timber construction balanced the stoa of the lower terrace.6 b.c. The first half of the 2nd century witnessed changes and additions to the terrace that resulted in a new character as a upper for the sanctuary whole. To connect the upper terrace with the rest of the sanctuary below, a new a a grand staircase created dominant central axis (Fig. 3).7 In addition, new marble stoa the earlier timber structure. In the center the replaced of x m a approximately 50.4 81.5 space enclosed by this stoa, marble Doric was as as as temple of Asklepios begun early 170 b.c., today referred to Tem to ple A (Figs. 2-5) distinguish it from the earlier temple of Asklepios on terrace (Temple B) the below.8 Axially placed before the staircase overlooking the middle and lower terraces, Temple A became the dramatic visual focus of the entire Asklepieion. an The choice of the Doric order for Temple A is archaism. While Doric stoas continued to be common in all areas of the Greek world down through the Hellenistic period, Asia Minor and the nearby islands reflect 5. Important utilitarian features, 62, 75,98,109,112,149,159,171,246, such as a and wells lo springhouse fig. 74. cated the wall for the 7. Schazmann and along retaining Herzog 1932, were also found on upper terrace, pp. 22-24, fig. 18, pis. 10,11, 37-40, this level. For these features, as well 45-48, 54. as the monumental 8. Schazmann and 2nd-century altar, Herzog 1932, see Schazmann and tem Herzog 1932, pp. 3-13, figs. 3-14, pis. 1-6. The is oriented west pp. 25-31, 34-39, 49-51, 60, 73, ple 25 degrees of north. on a pis. 12-14. Built foundation of limestone, the 6. For the timber and its con portico superstructure of the temple is later marble see replacement, Schaz structed of marble throughout with the mann and courses Herzog 1932, pp. 14-21, exception of of poros limestone naos. figs. 15-17, pi. 9; Coulton 1976, pp. 9, blocks in the interior walls of the AND IN IDEA VISUALITY HELLENISTIC ARCHITECTURE 557 -C 2. at view Figure Asklepieion Kos, of the remains (in situ) of the upper :::?-%--S?:?,',:R"?:?".;?: terrace from the complex southeast, looking toward Temple A, with the stoa in the foreground ! == J 0 Figure 3. Asklepieion at Kos, I I terrace restored plan of the upper complex with Temple A 0 3W a predilection for the Ionic order for temple architecture. As Vitruvius as indicates, architects such Pytheos and Hermogenes bolstered this pref erence a as with theoretical justification (Vitr. 4.3.1-2).9 Furthermore, its was measurements demonstrate,10 Temple A traditional in its omission of to as over 9. In addition Pytheos and the convincing and still much seeTomlinson 1963. common 10. Schazmann and Hermogenes, Vitruvius mentions the looked arguments against the Herzog 1932, a of 2-5. architect Arkesios, who perhaps dates Vitruvian conception of "decline" pp. 3-5, pis. as to the 3rd century. For Arkesios, well the Doric order in the 4th century b.c., 558 JOHN R. SENSENEY ??-?:-; u ?;?:i: ?:: : ?x???i ::t: r-?:?ii :I "'?ic??:r??-: 4. remains Figure View of the of A from the southwest Temple the kind of novel modifications and "optical refinements" characteristic of the Parthenon. Foregoing also the interesting and easily detectable schemes of Ionic temples associated with Pytheos and Hermogenes (Fig. 6), the seem a temple would to have been strictly conventional reapplication of the Doric order in the 2nd century b.c. Yet the straightforward character of Temple A may represent only a a measure part of its story. As I argue below, geometric analysis of its ments use a reveals the of compass in constructing the interrelationships of architectural elements in plan according to circumferences.11 The di ameters a of these circumferences share simple arithmetical relationship on a based the whole-number proportions of 3:4:5 Pythagorean triangle, amore rather than strictly geometric relationship pertaining to irrational or or numbers like v2 v3, their fractional approximations. The geometry of the temple's plan is therefore very simple, and is not to be confused by the analytic geometry required to substantiate it. The presence of theoretical circumferences concealed within the building's features raises interesting questions about the nature of the on a Doric design process Hellenistic architect's drawing board. That such an a underpinning is found in only single (albeit prominent) example of as to more Greek temple architecture, opposed the widespread approach of grid patterns, does not detract from its significance. As I will discuss, a the uniqueness of circumferential relationships in temple plan?as op to posed the kind of orthogonal relationships that temples of the Ionic a order permit?relates to dearth of specifically Doric temples during the Late Hellenistic period. The interesting geometry in Temple A demon an we strated here exemplifies important architectural tenet that might term to the features of the "cryptomethodic," referring systematic design 11. For an excellent discussion of that cannot be casual but see process appreciated through observation, may plans in ancient architecture, Hasel be 1997. recovered only through detailed study. berger IDEA AND IN VISUALITY HELLENISTIC ARCHITECTURE 559 m ?-#-3.080 ?^ -7.228 1.016* Joid 1 - 4.368 4.435-1?CD-" & k-+ 9.272 i.ioa O O T-"^.I ."" 1"...'".""H -?- 18.075 -??-~~-* 5. Measured state of Figure plan 10 rn Temple A according to material and trace remains, shown without the limestone of the exposed masonry foundations 56o JOHN R. SENSENEY IDEALISM AND HELLENISTIC VISUALITY to a Before turning technical discussion, Iwill first address the very premise an a on that ancient architect should design building based geometry that not does correlate experientially with the final product.12 It is important to state outset from the that architects of the Hellenistic world thought about their buildings in terms different from those used by architects today.We know from Vitruvius that Greek architects called their plan, elevation, and perspective drawings i??ou (Vitr. 1.2.1-2), corresponding to the notion that Platonic idealism uses in reference to the transcendent ideas (or forms) that are to thought be the ultimate reality underlying the perceptible objects of the everyday world. As Lothar Haselberger has admirably observed, the correspondence between the philosophical and architectural meanings is not casual,13 and the full implications of this correlation have yet to be appreciated in studies of ancient architecture.
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