which had been considered of minor importance among the Greeks.  They added another to the three orders of the Greek architecture, viz., the Composite, the most elaborate of all, being a combination of the Ionic and the Corinthian.  This leads us to consider the leading features of Roman ornament—­richness and profusion.  With the acanthus and scroll as their principal units of design, they elaborated and enriched every form that would admit of it.  The most elaborate Greek example cannot compare in this respect to the simplest Roman.  The Roman style of architecture was very similar to the Greek, though more massive in its proportions, probably on account of the larger number of people to be accommodated.  The details were also bolder and the curves fuller.  They used the round arch to a great extent.  The column of Trajan and the Forum are fine examples of their architecture.

II.  MEDIAEVAL ART.

The Roman empire, after having reigned as mistress of the world for upward of five centuries, commenced to show signs of decay.  Its people had gradually lost the sturdy spirit of independence, endurance, and courage which had characterized their forefathers, and had degenerated into a race of effeminate slaves and cowards.  Ostentation became the feature of their art; immorality and luxury, of their mode of living.  They thus fell an easy prey to the rude but vigorous barbarians of the North.  The latter, rude and uncivilized as they were, extended the contempt they had for the nation they had conquered to their works of art as well, and mutilated or destroyed them whenever they could lay hands on them.

This spirit of antagonism was strengthened upon their conversion to Christianity, and everything that savored of paganism in art or literature was severely proscribed.  For the heathen forms, whose only aim and object was beauty, were substituted religious symbols, the cross and other implements of the passion, the lily, the fish, the aureole, etc., whose object was to recall to the faithful the mysteries of religion.  Gradually, however, as the artistic feelings of the new people became awakened, principles of beauty commenced to be regarded, and, while symbolism remained an important feature of European art until the period of the Renaissance, and even then was not entirely superseded, magnificent artistic results were obtained.

1. Byzantine Art.—­The principal of the early mediaeval art developments was the Byzantine.  It flourished principally in the eastern part of Europe.  In the west it was known, with a few variations, as the Lombard and the Norman.  All three are often included under the term Romanesque.