332 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



§ 2. Sir Gardiner Wilkinson's Classification. 



The only formal classification of Egyptian columns that I have seen 

 is that given by Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, the author of " The Man- 

 ners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians" (revised edition, London, 

 1879). This classification first appeared in a small hand-book called 

 "The Egyptians in the Time of the Pharaohs" (London, 1857, 

 p. 153), and was subsequently incorporated in substance into the 

 article on " Architecture " in the Encyclopaedia Britannica (9th 

 edition). In outline it is as follows: — 



1. Square pillars, " derived from the quarry, .... taken from 

 the mass left to support the roof of rock." 



2. Polygonal pillars, formed from the preceding " by cutting off the 

 four angles." Fluted pillars are included under this head ; for it is 

 added, " The next step was to hollow out the faces into grooves, and 

 the only trace of the original column was then the central facette, 

 which was left flat in order to receive a line of hieroglyphics." 



3. Columns with " bud capitals," divided into three sub-genera 

 according as only four or many plants are represented as tied to- 

 gether, or, all representation of separate stalks being omitted, the 

 general shape only of the cluster is given. This group also, like the 

 second, is regarded as a derivation from the first : " Pillars had always 

 been painted with various devices, among which plants were the most 

 common; these were afterwards sculptured in relief; and at length, 

 when convenience required the angles to be removed, the pillar was 

 cut away into the form of the plants hitherto sculptured upon its four 

 sides; and the four plants alone being left, were represented bound 

 together to account for their position and to complete the illusion." 



4. Columns with bell-shaped capitals, " representing the same plant 

 in blossom that the third order represented in bud." 



5. Palm-tree columns, which copy from the preceding groups the 

 cord wound about the upper part of the shaft as well as the cutting-in 

 of the base of the same. 



6. Columns with Isis-heads for capitals. These, too, result from 

 the decoration of square pillars. 



7. Composite columns, originating in the adornment of bell capitals, 

 and the addition of some lotus forms. "In this order," too, "may be 

 classed the volute-headed column, which was of great antiquity, at 

 least as early as the beginning of the XVIIIth Dynasty, ami which 

 was derived from the water-plant typical of Upper, as the papyrus was 

 of Lower Egypt." 



