View of the pool from the top of the monumental stairway; the Temple facade opposite the stairwayThis outdoor swimming pool on this lower slope of the hill was originally planned as much smaller. It was enlarged twice; "Hearst eventually had it extended to more than 100 feet in length, with a 345,000-gallon capacity" (Boutelle 202). Morgan persuaded Hearst to have the temple facade he had purchased for his collection placed on the long side of the oval as a focal point, opposite the monumental stairway. (The Neptune and two Nereids on the pediment were not part of the original temple.) Colonnades close in the short sides of the oval. |