1. THE MAISON CARREE

2. THE MAISON CARREE  is situated in the French town of Nimes.  name means ‘squared house’.  but the house isn’t actually square.  built in the early years of the first century AD.  the temple was built by Marcus Agrippa.  the temple originally sat in the middle of a 2000m 2 sanctuary.

3. Originally there was a gilded bronze inscription on the frieze over the entrance porch.The inscription said: “To Gaius Caesar, son of Augustus, consul, to Lucias Caesar, son of Augustus, consul designate/Leaders of the Youth”.

4. The design of the temple shows the Hellenised Italic tradition of temple architecture. ETRUSCAN TEMPLES ccccella fronted by a deep porch. sssstrong frontal aspect to the temple. rrrraised on a high podium. GREEK TEMPLES  use of stone (local limestone).  style of columns and mouldings.

5.  the front of temple has 6 columns.  two more free-standing columns along the east and west sides in a second and third row.  the columns are: –Corinthian, –fluted, –tall and slender.

6. What is pseudo-peripertal? = the appearance that there is a portico along the sides. The east and west sides are surrounded by a colonnade of engaged columns which encircle the cult room (cella).

7.  the pediment was left bare.  the entablature consists of an architrave and a frieze which is decorated with an acanthus scroll design on all but the north side.  the ceiling under the porch has coffers for decoration.  there is a deep entrance porch.  the temple is entered via a broad 15 steps staircase.  the podium is 2.88m high

8. AND THE INSIDE … ? TTTThe interior is modern and we have no way of knowing what it originally looked like. SSSSorry. THE END