Janus Quadrifrons -- plan
Although the tetrapylon plan of the Janus Quadrifrons appears symmetrical and identical on all four sides, there are nonetheless subtle differences between the sets of perpendicular sides: the archways are not of equal width, and not all of the niches are completely hollowed out on every side. If all the niches were completely hollowed out, then the niches of each corner would erode into each other. To remedy this problem, the designer of this tetrapylon introduced 'faux' niches into the above left and right faces of the archway's otherwise four identical facades. The fact that only thirty-two of the archway pier's forty-eight niches are completely hollowed out, while sixteen of the niches are shallow niche representations is not often, if ever, mentioned within the Janus Quadrifrons' descriptions.
| |
|
