English: The Temples were built with special regard to external effect, and were ornamented with sculpture of the highest class in order to form fitting shrines for the deities in whose honour they were erected. They were generally placed in a "temenos" or sacred enclosure, and consisted of a "naos" or cell, usually oblong in plan/ in which was placed the statue of the god or goddess ; a treasury or chamber beyond and a front and rear portico, with flanking colonnades, the whole generally raised on a stylobate of three steps.

In the larger temples were internal colonnades of columns placed over each other to support the roof. On the two end fagades above the columns a triangular- shaped pediment, usually but not always filled with sculpture, terminated the simple span roof. These roofs were constructed of timber and covered with marble slabs ; the ends of the overlapped joints being provided with ante-fixae at the eaves. The door was almost always placed in the centre of the end wall, behind the portico of columns, and frequently planned so that the sun might enter and light up the statue opposite.

From the Book: A history of architecture on the comparative method. For the student, craftsman and amateur.