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Show t * 1 efpecially after that of Zorobabel,. the Grecians brought the Royal Art into their Country, and erected ieveral. noble Structures, as the Citadel of Athens, the Temp'ei of Minerva, Thefeus and ffupiler Olywpius, their Halls, Portico's, Forums, Gymnafiums, and ftately Palaces, :fome Yeftiges of which remain to this Day. But the Grecians were never remarkable for any great Skill in Geometry till the Time of Shales Milefws and his Scholar Pythagoras, who was the Author of the 47th Pro pofttion of the fitft Book of Euclid, which, if rightly vmderftood, is the Foundation of M A S O N R Y . . The admirable Euclid of Tyre, who flourimed at -Alexandria under the Pationagc of Ptolemeus, the Son-of Lagus, King of Egypt, gathered the fcattered Elements of Geometry, anddigefted them.into a Method never yet mended. The next King of Egypt, Ttolemeus 'Philadelphia that great Improver of all ufeful Knowledge, (who gathered the greateft Library upon Earth J erected among other great Buildings, the famous Lighthoufe or Tower cf cPharos, one of the feven Wonders of the World. ( The Romans from Sicily (where the Great Geometrician Arehimedes flourifh'd (as well as from Afia, Egypt, and Greece, received the liberal Sciences. And in the ileign of Augvftu* Ceefar (when the Raman Empire was advanced to its Zenith; was CHRIST the great Architect of the Church born, who. proclaiming univerlal Peace, gave Opportunity to the famous Architects of that Time, of making many Improvements in the noble Arts, and ere&ing feveral ftately Edifices, the Remains of which are the Pattern and Standard of true M A S O N R Y at this very Day, as the great Vitruvius who then flourished, is efteemed the Father of all our modern Architects, who arebut endeavouring as yet to imitate the Augi'.flan Stils in, their Performances. M A S O N R Y continued to nouri/h till about the £ £ h Century, when a Deluge of Goths and Vandals over-run the Era* |