ITUK ARCHITECTURE. 



the rock. (Fig. 4.) 



ock. 



EGYPTIAN ABCHITECTURE. 



.,. .., The extreme end of this temple reaches 7 feet 

 into the rock. 



g thus described the general plan and arrangements of the 

 temples as the chief and moat characteristic class ofKgyptian build- 

 tag*, we proceed to notice some of the principal elementary parts of 

 which they are composed. 



The diversity observable in Egyptian columns is so great that it is 

 impoble to specify here all their varieties, which can lie understood 

 only by studying the engraving! in the Urge works devoted to 

 Egyptian antiquities. Nor can they be reduced to any lystem, there 

 wing no peculiar form of capital or other distinct characti 

 attaching to any particular type of column ; nor anything in i 

 proportion whereby they can be classified. There can b. 

 that the oldest and simplest form of Egyptian column was that of a 

 plain square pier. From these, octangular, polygonal, and eventually 

 cylindrical columns, were produced by the simple process of cutting 

 off the angles. A* a general rule, Egyptian columns, of whatever kind, 

 were vertical in profile, thus contrasting in a marked manner with the 

 sloping profile of the building. It must not be understood, however 

 that the shafts are either invariably or perfectly cylindrical, bu 

 uch was their general form. There is sometimes a slight di 

 between the upper and lower diameter ; or else the shaft is cii. 

 at intervals by bands consisting of three or more rings encii 

 ami thereby increasing the diameter in those parts. In ad.i. 

 this species of ornament, the abaft was variously decorated in other 

 respects, the (paces between the bands being sometimes sculptured 

 with hieroglyphics ; at others, reeded, that is, its surface was divided 

 into a series of upright mouldings, or staves, so as to have the appear- 

 ance of a bundle of smaller pillars bound together, and whu 

 the encircling of the shaft with ring "mouldings, has suggested the idea 

 of their being an imitation of reeds, or thin palm st 

 together. The kind of striating, or M 

 reverse of that practised in the Doric n 

 in the latter it was produced by . 



thin by convex surfaces. In the rock-cut tombs of Nubia, h 

 true-fluted proto-Doric columns occur, the only character < 

 Doric absent being the echinus moulding under the abacus : a charac- 

 teristic example is that of the tomb at Beni-Hassan. Under COLUMN 

 (coL 44) is a cut of an Egyptian column, now in the British Museum, 

 in which are shown the cartouches of hieroglyphics spoken of above. 

 . Egyptian columns have rarely any distinct base, seldom more than a 

 circular plinth; but they have frequently an ornamental footing, 

 which differs however from a base in being contracted instead of 

 expanded below. It may be described as shaped like the calyx of a 

 flower, the resemblance to which is increased by its being sculptured 

 into some forms of foliage, so that the shaft appears to be set in and 

 rise out of a plant. Of this description are the bases of the columns of 

 the temple at Latopplis or Esnd. By some this has been insisted upon 

 as a defect and as indicative of weakness : consequently, contrary to 

 that law of architecture which prescribes that there should be apparent 

 as well as real strength, more especially where the expression of solidity 

 is naturally looked for. Still it may not unreasonably be urged that, 

 as in all such oases, the judgment comes to the aid of and corrects the 

 eye : what is known to be strong cannot fairly be said to appro: 

 and the solidity of columns which have stood the test of some thou- 

 sands of years cannot possibly be called in question. It may ndeed be 

 argued that the excess of strength which they gave their structures, and 

 the prodigious solidity and durability of the materials employed, 

 allowed the architects' of i: .iitract the diameter of their 



columns below, wit!. -,H wea k. 



The most usual form adopi ,1s was that of the cup of tha 



papyrus or the calyx of the lotus, but occasionally of some other Howvrn 

 with a rim bending downwards, which was sometimes quite ci 

 at others jagged, the circumference being divided into a nin 

 convex curves, forming so many distinct totals. The six up. 

 given in the article COLDMK (col. 46) exhibit two of the lau 

 three of the first-mentioned variety of the bell-shaped capital. 



From these it will be seen what variety prevailed in the decorative 

 details, some being cut int., di.iinct leaves, either convex or , 



irs embellished with sculpture representing branches and How en. 

 rill also be perceived that, in their p 

 aw, far from having anythiti, , n with that of i 



Uonc, bear a general .h, .,,i,,tliiaii order, though 



both the foliage and iU arrangement are of a,; ,-aeter. Yet 



ftreisnotnowmuch .thian order may, 



likethe Done, be traced to an Egyptian ,t there exists an 



exceedingly wide B^^^^^K, 

 of either Grecian or Ibmuin 



mere square pin. . I M^ 



Egyptian abacus i 



it not that in thi! bui'. hardly be seen, - 



ismallnesi and the projection of the rii 



J ' t { T^\^ Fpe ^ d * ^ very Hee l'' ft " enrel1 chiefl y l " < lc tch 

 J from the architrave, and prevent that heaviness of appear- 

 ance which would otherwise be occasioned. The first figure among 

 8 *SrS m ^ *??" Under CO"* *< an example of what may be 

 termed the double capiU , peculiar to Egyptian architecture ; for 

 above the usual shaped capital is a square member, sculptured on each 



.f its sides with an Isis 1 bead; and on this again is placed a second 

 square member, so that instead of a double this may be termed a triple 

 capital. The columns of the temple at DenderahfV C) offer another 



[Flgr. 5. Column from Dcnderah.] 



instance of the double capital in some respects similar to, in others 

 greatly differing from the preceding. Here the lower capital consists 

 of four Isis' faces, disposed so as to form a square, larger than the 

 shaft, the folds of the head-dress hanging down and projecting beyond 

 it: above each face is a kind of fluted abacus, and above is a wpiare 

 member. The shaft also varies consideraMv from those shown in the 

 preceding examples; for instead of being striated verti, -ally and banded 

 horizontally, this is covered with hieroglyphics disposed in series of 

 rings. Another remarkable circumstance is the great height of the 

 ipital, it being not legs than two-fifths of the shaft. 



U another species of capital of very frequent occurrence, 

 which is distinct from either of the above two, classes ; and although 



[Pig. 6. Efrypltnn Capital, in the British MaMum.] 



its form may at first sight be considered uncouth, it is well calenlat. <! 

 for effect. After sweeping out from the shaft, instead of continuing to 

 expand as it proceeds upwards, it slopes back so as to diminish until it 



