An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius

Scotia, from σκὸτος tenebræ, Darkness, is a Member of Architecture, hollowed as a Demi-channel: It’s particularly affected in the Bases where it’s placed, between the Torus and the Astragals; it’s sometimes put under the Drip, in the Cornice of the Dorick Order.

Statumen signifies generally whatsoever is made use of to support any thing in Architecture; it is Mortar mixt with Pibbles, which served for the first Lay or Bed in Flooring.

Systyle, from σὺν con, and στὺλος columna; signifies building where the Pillars seem to be joyned together, for the Intercolumniation is but of two Diameters of the Pillars.

T

TOrus is a Member in the Base which is round, in the form of a great Ring; it comes from the Latin word Torus, which signifies a Bed.

Tringle is a little square Member, which is directly upon every Triglyph, under the Platt-band of the Architrave, from whence hang down the Guttæ, or pendant Drops in the Dorick Order.

Triglyph, from τρὶς ter, and γλὺφος sculptura; because it’s divided into three parts, and engraved, it is a Member in the Freeze of the Dorick Order, directly upon every Pillar, and in certain spaces in the Intercolumniations.

Tympan signifies a Drum; it’s that part of the bottom of the Frontons which answers the naked of the Freeze; it is triangular, and placed upon the Cornice of the Entablature, and covered over again with two other Cornices which slope a little.

V

VOlute signifies wreathed, and turned about from Volvendo; it’s a part of the Capitals of the Ionick, Corinthian, and Compound Orders, which represents the bark of a Tree twisted and turned into a Spiral line.

X

XYste, from the Greek ζυτος, which signifies scraped; it was the place where the Wrestlers exercised; it was so called because they made their skins be scraped and rubbed smooth, to make the Sweat fall, and to make their Bodies more slippery, that their Adversaries might have the less hold of them when they closed.