258 



Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



in all classes of ancient Irish monuments, and are equally common in Irish 

 manuscripts, which are acknowledged to be of earlier antiquity than the period 

 of Danish rule in Ireland. The last illustration, given on the preceding page, 

 shows the design on the two faces of the base of the central pier, or that 

 facing pier B : the base of the third column is defaced. 



Of the arch-mouldings only a few stones remain, but these are sufficient to 

 prove that they were ornamented with a profusion of sculpture, as will be seen 

 from the following illustrations, of which the three first are copied from geome- 

 trical sketches by Monsieur Beranger, and obviously belonged to one compart- 

 ment of the arch : 



The three which follow, are from sketches of other arch-stones, recently made, 

 but which do not correspond in size or character of ornament with each other. 



Some of the most curious and beautifully executed sculptures are, however, 

 those supposed to have formed the architrave of the window, or rather perhaps 



