340 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



With respect to height, as compared with the height of the whole column 

 there appear to be two varieties of plinths, — one about twice the height of the 

 other. The lower variety ranges from .027 to .029 of the column-height ; the 

 higher from about .045 to .070, and even more. The plinths of the lotus col- 

 umns belong to the lower variety. 



The greatest diameter of the plinth in terms of the greatest diameter of the 

 shaft in A. is 2.06; in B. 1, 1.21 to 1.39, and upwards; in B. 2, 1.41 to 1.48. In 

 B., however, being contrasted with the small lowest diameter of the shaft, the 

 plinth appears broader than it really is. 



Astragal. — Returning now to the upper part of the column, we find 

 that always in A. and B. 1, and usually in B. 2, there is wound about 

 the top of the shaft a cord-like astragal. This, when present, is inva- 

 riably divided into five transverse bands or twists, which are notably 

 horizontal, and not spirally ascending, as they would be if merely 

 imitative of an actual ligature. In the older columns, A. and B. 1, 

 these twists are carefully separated and rounded so as to give a dis- 

 tinct notion of their office and significance ; but in B. 2, either they are 

 flush with the surface of the shaft, and are only indicated by lines 

 (Fig. 7), or they are omitted altogether.* 



In the sub-group A. the astragal occupies only .06 of the shaft-height; in B., 

 it varies from .09 to .12. 



Astragal Pieces. — Under the astragal, and occupying the depressions 

 between the stems of the shaft, pieces of cane or lily-stems are slipped, 

 as if to render the bundle rounder and more solid at the point of cinc- 

 ture, so that the large stems shall not be flattened and distorted by the 

 pressure of the bandage.f In A. these pieces are small and round ; 

 in B. 1, large, and trimmed to a triangular shape so as to fit the gaps 

 between the stalks with considerable accuracy (see cuts) ; and in B. 2, 

 of course, they are only indicated by shallow outlines, or are entirely 

 omitted. t The pieces employed in B. are regularly divided by vertical 

 lines into three parallel strips, as if composed of three pieces. These 

 strips are often bound together by bands not unlike the astragal, — 

 horizontal, and usually five in number.§ In these pieces the difference 

 in material between A. and B. is again emphasized, for in each case 

 the same kind of stem is used as in the body of the column. The 

 little scraps of lotus-stem only half fulfil their mission. They seem 

 like experiments out of which the more adequate form developed. 



* Lepsius, i. 101. § Ibid., i. 117. 



t See Wathen, Arts, Antiqs., and Chron. of the Anc. Egs., p. 98. 



% Lepsius, i. 101. 



