OF THE ARROW-HEADED CHARACTER. 491 
to make may tend to illustrate one of the great 
fundamental principles in the investigation of what 
may with propriety be termed “ the etymology of 
forms”—a most deeply interesting subject, and 
one on which “the philosophy of architecture” is 
founded—namely, the tracing back to their pri- 
mitive origin those forms which serve to distin- 
guish one style of architecture from another. 1 
trust I shall be able to show that the present sub- 
ject is a most striking and beautiful illustration of 
principles just alluded to, as well as exhibiting in 
a most marked manner that tendency which man- 
kind have ever had to cling to, and so perpetuate 
certain forms, which were natural to the materials 
that were employed, as being most convenient and 
suited to the wants and capabilities of the nation, 
when in its primitive condition. 
In tracing back to its primitive origin the archi- 
tectural style of any nation, in any degree cele- 
brated for the cultivation of the arts, we shall 
find that in almost every instance the character of 
the style in question, has a distinct reference to 
the nature and capabilities of that material which 
was most abundantly and conveniently situated to 
supply their primitive wants, in reference to the 
erection of such buildings as they required for 
their domestic or religious rites. 
