Publisher's Synopsis
Originally published in 1960, Dr Hodge's study deals with the construction of the wooden parts of the roofing of classical Greek temples of the era 600-400 BC in Greece, southern Italy and Sicily. There were no fragments remaining of these wooden members (rafters, ridge-beams and purlins), so Dr Hodge demonstrates the original position and function of the timbers from the way the stonework was cut to fit round them, and to a lesser extent from ancient documents. Dr Hodge is able to define a widely used type of roof (the Gaggera roof) and ceiling (the slot ceiling) not hitherto noticed, and makes a suggestion about the possible origin of the triangular tie-beam truss, as well as collating existing knowledge of the time. There are about 50 photographs and a number of detailed architectural drawings.
