re-, 



EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE. 



EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE. 



706 



is contracted again to the diameter of the shaft itself. The decoration 

 consists in its being subdivided into eight lesser shafts, inscribed with 

 hieroglyphics, as are likewise the faces of the abacus, which member 

 here becomes very pronounced, and occasions a picturesque play of 

 light and shade. Capitals of this kind, as well as other varieties, occur 

 at Luxor. In their proportions, Egyptian columns vary no less than 

 in other particulars, their height amounting in some instances to no 

 more than three diameters, in others extending to eight or upwards. 

 Yet such difference is not attended by any regularly corresponding 

 one, either as regards the column itself or the parts connected with it. 

 Further, it is by no means unusual to meet with square pillars or 

 tetrapleurons, with either a statue or a caryatide figure standing before 

 but distinct from it. One of these from Medinet Abou is figured 

 under ATLANTES (vol. i. 689). There are also terminal caryatide 

 columns at Karnak. 



The Egyptian entablature is so far from displaying anything like the 

 same variety as the columns, that it is nearly uniformly the same in 

 buildings which differ very much from each other in regard to their 

 columns. Unlike that of the Greeks, it consists of only two divisions, 

 the epistylium or architrave, and the cornice ; the height of both being 

 generally one-third of that of the columns. More frequently than not 

 the epistylium was enriched with sculpture in hieroglyphics, which 

 circumstance alone constitutes a great difference between the practice 

 of the Egyptians and that of the Greeks. Another singularity is, that 

 the epistylium was included within the convex moulding or torus 

 carried up at the angles of the building, and then returned horizontally 

 along the front, owing to which the architrave itself (epistylium) 

 appears to be returned downwards, like that of a door or window. 

 This will be at once understood by referring to the view of Denderah 

 (Jiy. 3), by which it will also be seen that the cornice consists of little 

 more than a deep cove enriched with sculpture, a form peculiarly 

 adapted for effect in a climate like that of Egypt, as it not only casts a 

 bold shadow but receives a strong reflected light. 



With the cornice the building terminated, for the roof being a flat 

 terrace, there was no indication of roof ; consequently Egyptian archi- 

 tecture is entirely destitute of what are such expressive and highly 

 ornamental features in that of Greece, namely, the pediment, antitixie, 

 and ridge tiles. By way of indemnity for its deficiency in this respect, 

 and the sameness arising from it, greater latitude was allowed to it in 

 others. Not only was there far greater diversity in the forms and 

 ornaments of columns, which do not appear to have been subject to 

 any regulations beyond those prescribed either by symbolic allusions 

 or by national taste ; but columns of very different character appear in 

 the same edifice, and even capitals of different design in the same range 

 of columns. Another thing peculiar to Egyptian buildings is the fre- 

 quent use in the external porticoes of temples of intercolumnar walls, 

 or screens, that Is, walls built between the columns and carried up half 

 their height ; thereby giving to the open part of the intercoluiuns 

 above them somewhat the appearance of windows. For an example, 

 we again refer to the view of Denderah, in which instance these walls 

 are brought forward so as to encase the shafts of the columns between 

 them, and fling a shadow upon them. Like every other part of the 

 front in the same edifice, these walls are decorated with sculpture and 

 hieroglyphics ; for the Egyptians were exceeding lavish of that species 

 of embellishment, not confining it to particular situations, as did the 

 Greeks, namely, to the pediment, frieze, and inner frieze behind the 

 columns, along the walls of the cella, but extending it over the entire 

 surface, in compartments forming tier above tier. These architectural 

 sculptures were generally in very low relief, and some of them also 

 occasionally in intaglio, or hollowed into the surface instead of pro- 

 jdcting from it. There are even instances of a combination of both 

 modes, the figures being outlined by a groove or incision, so as to give 

 them greater apparent relief ; a mode that has been denominated by 

 gome intaglio-nlevato. In addition to this species of enrichment must 

 be added that of colours and gilding : the whole of the sculpture which 

 covered the walls, the capitals of the columns, and much, if not the 

 whole, of the columns themselves, and the beams and ceilings, were 

 brilliantly coloured. The colours employed in all parts of Egypt were, 

 according to Sir Gardner Wilkinson (' Anc. Egyptians/ iii. 301), red, 

 green, and blue ; and when black was introduced yellow was added to 

 harmonise it. Fairly to estimate the effect of this, as it might other- 

 wise seem, excessive polychromatic decoration, the extreme brilliancy 

 of the Egyptian climate must be constantly borne in mind. 



In Egyptian architecture, even more than in Grecian, doorways are 

 conspicuous and important features, where they occur as distinct parts 

 of the design in the form of towers ; sometimes standing quite insulated 

 after the manner of arches or gateways ; yet more usually placed 

 between and connecting two pyramidal pylons that rise to a great 

 elevation above the propylon itself ; consequently such entrance is both 

 lower and narrower than the parts attached to it. In its general form 

 the propylon or gateway resembled the temple itself, yet with this 

 difference, that the proportions of the propylon are lofty and narrow ; 

 those of the temple wide and low, and its opening filled with columns 

 supporting the lintel or epistylium. Their similarity in all other respects 

 is obvious enough, owing to the epistylium of the portico being re- 

 turned and carried downwards just as the lintel of the door is in order 

 to form its jambs. The outer angles are similarly inclined in both 

 I and ornamented with the same torus moulding on their edge. It 



should be understood, however, that the jambs of the doorway were 

 for the most part?, not vertical next the opening, but sloped like the 

 external angles, so that the aperture was narrower at the top than at 

 bottom, which form seems to have been copied by the Greeks in that 

 of their doors and windows. The liiitel and cornice above it were also 

 proportionably much deeper than the epistylium and corresponding 

 member, over columns, in order to produce sufficient mass ; otherwise 

 the effect would have been both unarchitectural and disagreeable, too 

 much like that of the mere framing of a door, standing, although not 

 quite insulated, yet distinct from the rest of the composition. Some 

 idea may be given of the imposing magnitude of such doorways or 

 propyla, by stating that the one at Edfou measures 74 feet to its 

 summit, and 51 to that of the aperture, which gives a depth of 23 feet, 

 or nearly one-third of the whole height, for the lintel and cornice. 



The magnificence of these propylea was greatly enhanced by colossal 

 statues or obelisks in some instances both placed on either side of 

 the entrance. Besides which there were sometimes two or even more 

 propylea and courts preceding the temple, which were in their turn 

 preceded by avenues of gigantic sphinxes or crio-sphinxes (that is, 

 sphinxes with rams' heads). There are, likewise, instances of avenues 

 of columns crossing the courts in a line from the entrance. The 

 remains at Luxor furnish an example of the kind, where, after the 

 first court (which has a double peristyle), there is a second with a 

 double range of columns extending down it, that are 11 ^ feet in 

 diameter and 56 high, and beyond this was a third court, flanked by 

 colonnades, consisting of double rows of pillars. 



Of the domestic architecture of the Egyptians there are but few 

 vestiges left. The so-called temple-palaces have but little of the 

 character of even a royal residence. At Medinet Abou, in Western 

 Thebes, enclosed within an extensive brick-wall are a temple, or build- 

 ing that has been called a palace, but appears to be also a temple, and 

 a much smaller structure which is considered to have been a royal 

 pavilion erected by Rameses II. All that remains of this last is a 

 singularly picturesque structure two stories high, though it was 

 originally, no doubt, a three-story building, with three rooms with 

 long-connecting corridors on each floor. The chief front is sculptured 

 with colossal figures, has wide window openings, and is crowned with 

 the usual cornice. 



Of the mansions of the higher and affluent classes, pretty nearly all 

 that is known is derived from Egyptian paintings. These have been 

 most thoroughly examined by Sir J. G. Wilkinson, and the little it 

 it seems necessary to add on this subject we borrow from him. The 

 private houses of the Egyptians, and indeed all buildings, except 

 temples and temple-palaces, appear to have been built of crude brick. 

 The town-houses of wealthy citizens frequently covered a considerable 

 space, were seldom more than three stories high, and presented to the 

 street either the sides of the house itself, or the walls of the court 

 attached to it. Sir Gardner Wilkinson (' Ancient Egyptians,' vol. ii. 

 101-4), thus describes these buildings : " Their plans were regular, 

 the rooms being usually arranged round an open area, or on either 

 side of a long passage to which an entrance-court led from the street. 

 The court was an empty space, considerably larger than the Roman 

 imiiluvium, probably paved with stone, or containing a few trees, a 

 small tank, or a fountain in its centre ; and sometimes, though rarely, 

 a flight of steps led to the main entrance from without. A court was 

 frequently common to several houses : and again, some of the large 

 mansions stood detached, and had the advantage of several doors of 

 entrance, on two or three different sides. They had a portico, or 

 porch, before the front door (janua), supported on two columns, below 

 whose capitals were attached ribands or banners : the name of the 

 person who lived there being occasionally painted within, on the lintel, 

 or imposts of the door; and sometimes the portico consisted of a 

 double row of columns, between which stood colossal statues of the 

 king. A line of trees ran parallel with the front of the house ; and, 

 to prevent injuries from cattle or from any accident, the stems were 

 surrounded by a low wall, pierced with square holes to admit the air. 

 The height of the portico was about twelve or fifteen feet, just exceed- 

 ing that of the cornice of the door, which was only raised by its 

 threshold above the level of the ground. On either side of the main 

 entrance was a smaller door, which stood at an equal distance between 

 it and the side wall, and was probably intended for the servants, and 

 those who came on business. On entering by the porch, you passed into 

 an open court (auto., or hall), containing a mandam, or receiving-room, 

 for visitois. This building, supported by columns, decorated with 

 banners, was closed only at the lower part by intercolunmar panels, 

 over which a stream of cool air was admitted, and protection from tho 

 rays of the sun was secured by an awning that covered it. On the 

 opposite side of the court was another door, the approach to the man- 

 dara from the interior; and the master of the house, on the announce- 

 ment of a stranger, came in that way to receive him. Three doors led 

 from this court to another of larger dimensions, which was ornamented 

 with avenues of trees, and communicated on the right and left with 

 the ulterior of the house ; and this, like most of the largo courts, had 

 a back entrance (posltcum), through a central .and lateral gateway. 

 The arrangements of the interior was much the same on either side of 

 the court : six, or more chambers, whose doors faced those of the 

 opposite set, opening on a corridor supported by columns on the right 

 and left of an area, which was shaded by a double row of trees. At 



