Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	front_n	rank_n	right_n	4,549	5	9.0794	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65619	An account of the churches, or places of assembly, of the primitive Christians from the churches of Tyre, Jerusalem, and Constantinople described by Eusebius : and ocular observations of several very ancient edifices of churches yet extant in those parts : with a seasonable application / by Sir George Wheler ...	Wheler, George, Sir, 1650-1723.; Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, ca. 260-ca. 340.	1689 (1689)	Wing W1606; ESTC R34742	41,000	136

therefore as I have observed it in Ancient Buildings I shall accommodate to Eusebius his Description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. To this Porch Eusebius joyns three Doors on the same side one great one in the middle and two lesser on each hand This exactly agrees with that great Building at Troy which has three great Arches remaining at the Front of the Building That in the middle is much bigger than those that are on each hand These three Doors led into three Divisions of the Church made by the two Ranks of Pillars or four great Supporters of the Cupalo in the midst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. If I understand this right there were three Cloysters if not four to this Temple One in the Front which he had before described and two others at each side of the Temple one Which must needs make the whole very Magnificent and Glorious yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seem to me more than on both sides of the Temple I should rather translate it On each side of the whole Temple And then there must be also one at the East end and so the Symetry is full But this would make an extraordinary difference in the Scheme from other Churches that are now extant For if so it might probably have four Doors at East West North and South which none of those Ancient Churches I ever saw yet extant will permit me to be positive in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. On high above these Portico's he contrived several Windows to let in much Light into the House c. This shews that these Portico's were of a moderate height so that Windows might be made above them and also that they were on one side contiguous to the Sides of the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ipsam verò aedem Regiam The Royal Edifice i. e. The Church For so we shall find the Famous Churches Cathedrals especially often named by Eusebius and others Ensebius gives us not a perfect Platform of this so that we must be forced to Collect from others to make up this Defect Eusebius leaves us at the Entrance of the three great Doors which were it seems at three sides if not four If at four sides then the Platform must be an exact Square with a great Cupalo or Dome in the middle sustained by four great Pilasters as that of Jovian at Corfu which to my best Remembrance hath but four Pilasters sustaining the Cupalo and I think Sancta Sophia at Constantinople hath no more But if it was an oblong Square then I suppose there were more Pillars between those that held up the Cupalo and the great Doors I shall suppose this to be an exact Square because of the equal Number of Cloysters and Doors at each side 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With Thrones on high or in the highest or chiefest place Where or how these Thrones were placed in this Church Eusebius his Rhetorical Style renders difficult to determine If he means in the Highest or Chiefest place it must be at the Eastern-side of the Church under the half Cupalo making a Semi-circle As there are several in Greece remaining to this Day As at Athens in the Temple of Minerva At Prossia in the great Church turn'd into a Mosque And as Monsieur Grelot describes it in Sancta Sophia at Constantinople But if there were Doors and Cloysters on each of the four Sides this could not be And he must only mean Altissimis Thronis as the Translator understands it If so they must be placed under the Circle of the great Cupalo which was separated from the rest of the Church with Latice work of Wood wrought most curiously with various Figures For this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synthronon as it was also called was placed within the Sacred Place towards the Eastern End against the Wall. But here it was placed probably only near the Latice Separation which kept off the People every way and was placed in the middle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c At last he placed the Holy of Holies the Altar in the middle which he made every way inaccessible to the Multitude by a Separation of Wood c. So that if he means by the Middle the middle of the whole Church the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be about it And as I believe in a Semicircular form as I have seen it only with this difference That in those it is against the Wall at the East End but here a Space was left between it and the East Wall without it as between it and the South North and Western Entrances for the ●ate●umenoi to come and hear the Word of God Either at the several great Doors or a little within them So I shall place the Altar in the Middle under the great Cupalo which I conceive was separated from the rest of the Church by Cancelli or open work of Wood curiously carved and wrought in various Figures and Flowers And and at the Eastern side of this Circle I shall place the Thrones or the Synthronon because it was the General use of the Primitive Christians to Worship God towards the East And in figure like that remaining at Athens which is thus Three large Degrees or Steps of White Marble one above another in a Semicircular form high enough to sit upon and broad enough for the Feet of those sitting above and for the Seat of those sitting thereon beneath Upon the uppermost Step is a large Chair of beautiful White Marble in the middle of the Segment alone against the Window which I suppose was for the Archbishop The uppermost Step I suppose was for the Bishop's Collegues when they met upon Consecrations of Bishops Synods c. as the Ancient Canons ordain and the next for the Presbyters For that they use to sit with the Bishops is evident from Zonaras on the LVIII Apostolick Canon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c For this Reason it is Ordained That the Bishop sit on a Seat on High in the Holy Place to shew the Duty of his Office to look down upon the People committed to their Charge from above and narrowly to watch observe and oversee them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c There also the Presbyters are commanded to assist the Bishop and fit with him that they also from these High Seats may be induced with Prudence to inspect the People and to instruct them as given to be Fellow Labourers to the Bishop From whence we learn not only That the Bishop and Presbyters sate together on High Seats or Thrones but also that this was placed within the Holy Place he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which plainly in this place signifies not the Altar or Holy Table but the Place where it stood Thô sometime it signifieth no more And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Eusebius may for ought I see be understood And if so then the placing of it in the Middle of this Church becomes necessary But it must

This is the first place that presents it self to those that enter every way most Splendid and Beautiful to behold And is a proper Mansion either to those that have need of Institution or are admitted to Prayers Being past this Spectacle by several other more inward Portico's he made the Entrances into the Temple which again towards the Sun-Rising is by Three Doors on the same one side Of which that in the middle is by far the greatest both for height and widness and Adorned with Brass Plates engraven with various Figures and bound on with Iron to which the other two seem joyned as Royal Attendants In like manner ordering the same number of Porches to the Cloysters on each side of the whole Temple he contriv'd another on high above these with Windows letting in much Light into the Temple Adorning them with Lattice of curious Work in various Figures But he built the Royal House it self with far Richer and more precious Matter sparing no Cost nor Magnificence It seems superfluous to describe the Length and Breadth of the Building and this resplendent Beauty and Grandure a Sight beyond expression who can describe the dazling Variety of each Work whose Roofs mount up to Heaven and upon all these the most precious Cedars of Libanus Of which even the Divine Oracles have not been silent In which it is said The Trees of the Lord shall Rejoyce even the Cedars of Libanus which he hath planted To what purpose is it now to speak of the admirable Art and most wise Composure of the whole and further to discourse of the surprizing Convenience and Beauty of each part Especially when Ocular Testimony excludes any thing that can be perceived by the Ears Furthermore when he had thus finish'd the Temple and adorn'd it with Thrones which he erected in the highest or chiefest Place in honour of the Presidents and also with lower Seats placed in Decent Order all over the Temple He at last placed the Holy of Holies to wit the Altar in the Middle which he made every way inaccessible to the Multitude by a Separation of Net-work of Wood wrought and Carved with such acurate Skill and Art as makes as wonderful a Spectacle as Eyes can behold Nor did he neglect the Floor but Adorn'd and Paved it in a sumptuous manner with Marble and then to conclude returning to those things without the Temple he built Large Apartments and Houses on each side of the Temple most excellently Contrived joyned together at one End to the Sides of the Royal House and to the Entrances of the Middle Building or Court on the other Which Buildings our Truly Peaceful Solomon the Founder of this Temple built for the sake of those who had need of Expiation and Purgation by Water and the Holy Spirit Insomuch that that Heavenly Prediction we formerly mentioned subsists no longer in bare words but now is verified and accomplished indeed For now it is truly come to pass That the Glory of the latter House excels the former CHAP. III. Observations on Eusebius his Description of the Church of Tyre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Outward Court in the midst of which the Temple stood This I suppose was Square or Oblong according to the form of the rest of the Temple Whether it was open or to shut with an Outward Gate or Gates joyned to the Wall Eusebius does not mention but undoubtedly it was adorned with Entrances proper to the Place and proportionable to the Magnificence of so great a Work and was either so Low or with such open Work as might give a Prospect of the Front to all that passed by it i. e. By the Street or High-way as Eusebius affirms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Passing by the former Entrances which the Translator not observing seems to confound them with the Magnificent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vestibulum or Porch he speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. This undoubtedly was a Great High and Magnificent Building and a considerable distance from the outward Entrance because he saith expresly That not only those that were standing afar off might by it behold what was within but also those that cast but their Eyes that way as they run by the first Entrances So therefore I shall place it in the Scheme or Plane of it I am to delineate But with what kind or manner of Architecture it was Built Beautified and Adorned Eusebius hath left scope for Phantasie to work but no Pattern for the present Describer to Copy But as to the Situation it was towards the Sun-Rising as I take it to him going towards it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But taking a Large Space as between the Temple and first Entrance This again the Translator does not express exactly as it should but by missing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renders the whole obscure and seems to confound the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this inward Cloyster enclosed with a Portico as follows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Perimeter of which he Adorned Transversis Porticibus i. e. ad se invicem transversis with Portico's built Cross-ways to each other so as to enclose the Place in the form of a Square That is This Square Court was enclosed at the four Sides with covered Walks we call a Cloyster 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inter columnia as the Translator rightly translateth it i. e. The Spaces between the Pillars were enclosed with Wood of a proportionable height wrought in the form of a Net. That is a kind of Latice-work to look through into the Court to have a sight of what was there without entring into the Place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Fountains opposite to each other towards the Front of the Temple These I suppose were two Fonts for Baptism and were placed at each hand in the open Court enclosed with the Cloyster one on the Right hand and the other on the Left as one went through the Vestibulum into that Court towards the Church or Temple it self which must needs look very stately There are two very fine Fountains placed in this manner in the Court before St. Peter's Church at Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pluribus aliis adhuc Porticibus interioribus aditus ad Templum fecit He made the Entrances into the Temple with yet more inward Porches I suppose this Cloyster met up to the Front of the Temple which was Adorn'd Beautified and Enlarged with several other Ranks of Pillars between it and the Doors of the Temple As that of Sancta Sophia at Constantinople is and indeed every considerable Church among the Ancients had such a Porch or Pronaos or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As that at Corfu built by the Emperor Jovian That at Troas if it was a Church and at the Covent of St. Luke under the Helicon built by the Emperor Romanus Thô they seem to be much lesser than this of Tyre by Eusebius's Pompous description This