The Ten Books on Architecture, 10.11.4

Vitruvius  translated by Morris Hicky Morgan

« Vitr. 10.11 | Vitr. 10.11 | Vitr. 10.12 | About This Work »

4Having determined the size of the hole, design the “scutula,” termed in Greek περἱτρητοϛ, . . . holes in length and two and one sixth in breadth. Bisect it by a line drawn diagonally from the angles, and after this bisecting bring together the outlines of the figure so that it may present a rhomboidal design, reducing it by one sixth of its length and one fourth of its breadth at the (obtuse) angles. In the part composed by the curvatures into which the points of the angles run out, let the holes be situated, and let the breadth be reduced by one sixth; moreover, let the hole be longer than it is broad by the thickness of the bolt. After designing the scutula, let its outline be worked down to give it a gentle curvature.

« Vitr. 10.11 | Vitr. 10.11 | Vitr. 10.12 | About This Work »