178 



There is perhaps no ornament of such universal application ; its 

 varied developments furnish some of the most beautiful features 

 cf every school which follows. It is the anthemion of the Greek, and, 

 with very slight alteration from the original, furnishes the fleur-de-lys, 

 the proudest blazonry of the Merovingian dynasty of France. The 

 Papyrus, from which the Egyptian paper was made, represented 

 fitly their intellectual requirements ; and it is from the natural form 

 of these two plants that we are said to owe the suggestion of the 

 pillar, which may be said to be the foundation of Architectural 

 Science. The Palm is next in importance. It represents material 

 providence, as displayed in the vegetable world ; and again we 

 must admit the beauty and force of the illustration; "for to the 

 Palm the native of Egypt owes — shelter from the blazing sun, 

 timber for houses and temples, and other varied wants. Baskets 

 were made from its branches, and cordage from its fibres. It 

 furnishes thatch for his roofs, and fruit for his table ; and 

 embellishes the landscape with its luxuriant and varied form." * 



Another leading feature of Egyptian ornament perpetuated by 

 succeeding schools is the Serpent, which, from its peculiarity of casting 

 and renewing its skin, they used as an emblem of health and 

 vigour, as Moses used the brazen serpent in the wilderness. Even 

 the geometrical patterns used in Egyptian ornament — and they are 

 very numerous — have distinct meanings, many of them plainly 

 indicated by their names. Thus the wave scroll, the spiral, the 

 fret or labyrinth, the zig-zag — have all taken an indelible position 

 amongst the ornamental features of succeeding schools of archi- 

 tecture ; and all allude to their great river in its varied features. 



I have done but scanty justice to Egyptian symbolism ; but 

 time will not permit more, if I am to allude, however sparingly, to 

 other branches of my subject. I must therefore conclude by 

 observing that the great features both of Egyptian and Assyrian 

 art are — grandeur of proportion, colossal size, gorgeousness of 

 decoration, and richness of material — gilding, colour, gems, and 

 ivory being freely used. 



I have;, already alluded to the fact that the Greek Mythology 

 * Eygpt of Pharoah and the Khedive. 



