The Ten Books on Architecture, 9.0.8

Vitruvius  Parallel editions

‹‹‹ Vitr. 9.0.7 | Table of Contents | Vitr. 9.0.9 ›››

Gwilt translation

8For if the height from the pavement to the floor above be divided into three parts, five of those parts will be the exact length of the inclined line which regulates the blocks of which the steps are formed. Four parts, each equal to one of the three into which the height from the pavement to the floor was divided, are set off from the perpendicular, for the position of the first or lower step. Thus the arrangement and ease of the flight of stairs will be obtained, as the figure will shew.

Morgan translation

8Suppose the height of the story, from the flooring above to the ground below, to be divided into three parts. Five of these will give the right length for the stringers of the stairway. Let four parts, each equal to one of the three composing the height between the upper story and the ground, be set off from the perpendicular, and there fix the lower ends of the stringers. In this manner the steps and the stairway itself will be properly placed. A figure of this also will be found appended below.