The maison carree Nimes France

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The maison carree Nimes France

MAISON CARREE

The Maison Carree - is situated in the French town of Nimes,
- its name means ‘squared house’ but the house isn’t actually square.
- the date for this temple varies but it is likely that it was built in the first few
years of the first century AD.
- the temple was built by Marcus Agrippa and originally dedicated to Augustus and Roma,
- the temple faces north and originally sat in the middle of a 2000m2 sanctuary.

Originally there was a gilded bronze inscription on the frieze over the entrance porch. Now only the pegs remain but we can still see what the inscription said: “To Gaius Caesar, son of Augustus, consul, to Lucias Caesar, son of Augustus, consul designate/Leaders of the Youth”.

It is accepted that the temple was dedicated to Augustus’s adopted sons (physically his grandsons that were fathered by Agrippa) Lucias who died at 19 in 2 AD and Gaius who died at 24 in 4 AD. The temple would have been constructed soon after their death. Their deaths were a blow for Augustus’ succession plans. Both boys feature prominently in the Ara Pacis.

The design of temple shows the Hellenised Italic tradition of temple architecture.

Etruscan temple design - cella fronted by a deep porch,
- strong frontal aspect to the temple,
- raised on a high podium.

Greek temple design - use of stone (local limestone),
- style of columns and mouldings.

The temple has a three stepped stylobate. The podium is 2.88m high and the temple is entered from the front via a broad 15 steps staircase that leads up to a deep entrance porch.

The front of temple has 6 columns (hexastyle) with two more free-standing columns along the east and west sides in a second and third row.

The remainder of the east and west sides are surrounded by a colonnade of engaged columns which encircle the cult room (cella). This is called pseudo-peripertal because it gives the appearances of a portico along the sides.

The capitals of the columns are Corinthian and they are fluted.

The columns are tall and slender

The entablature consists of an architrave in three divisions surmounted by a frieze which is decorated on all but the north side by an acanthus scroll design.

The pediment was left bare.

The ceiling under the porch has coffers for decoration.

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

Source : http://www.rosehill-college.co.nz/DataStore/Pages/PAGE_1035/Docs/Documents/KeynotesMaison.doc

Web site link: http://www.rosehill-college.co.nz

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