ARCHITECTURE. 



astronomy, history and agriculture. The 

 tapering moles are crowned hy a cavetto 

 or flat* segment of a circle, richly fluted 

 in a vertical manner, resting on a beed or 

 torus that covers the corners of the pile. 

 The entrance or door-way is between the 

 moles, and is surmounted by a similar 

 cavetto over the architrave, upon which 

 is frequently carved the globe, wings, and 

 serpent. This entrance opens into a 

 grand court, surrounded on all sides by a 

 portico, consisting of two ranges of co- 

 lumns, 48 in number ; at the extremity of 

 this court, and opposite the entrance, the 

 sanctuary is placed, and contains apart- 

 ments for the priests two small porticos 

 or covered ways conduct to those of the 

 kings, and are distinguished by doors of 

 black granite. Other avenues lead to 

 buildings of considerable magnitude, or- 

 namented with rows or alleys of lions, 

 sphinxes and rams, from 15 to 16 feet in 

 length, couchant upon pedestals ten feet 

 asunder. 



Some of their sculpture is merely a 

 deep cut outline, and is no doubt the first 

 dawning of the art. Basso relievo, semi 

 relief, and alto relief, is every where to be 

 seen, producing bold and decisive effects. 



Although a perfect uniformity exists in 

 all the edifices of Upper Egypt as to plan 

 and general arrangement, it appears they 

 were very capricious in the proportions 

 and sculpture of columns. The capitals of 

 the columns of the temple of Appolinipo- 

 lis, one of the largest and most magnificent 

 buildings in Egypt, has two rowsot leaves, 

 bearing considerable resemblance to the 

 Corinthian of the Greeks. At the tombs 

 of Silsilis, the columns are in imitation of 

 bundles ofreeds bound together at the top 

 by a cord, and gradually swelling into a 

 capital, ornamented with leaves and blos- 

 soms of the lotus, or lily of the Nile. At 

 Tentyra, one entire column of hierogly- 

 phics supports a capital, containing four 

 heads of die goddess Isis. At the Memno- 

 nium, human figures are used as columns, 

 called by the Greeks cariatides, at which 

 place the ruins of a statue 64 feet in 

 height is to be seen, and supposed to have 

 been thrown down by Cambyses. 



Their edifices and statuary are princi- 

 pally composed of granite and sand stone 

 quarried upon the Nile, with aqueducts 

 leading from them into the river, through 

 which means, and its annual rise, the huge 

 masses of stone used in obelisks and co- 

 lumns were floated to their respective 

 situations ; but how these immense slabs 

 and blocks were raised upon terraces and 

 Columns, of great height, is an exertion 



columns 



of the mechanic powers totally obsolete 

 at the present day. 



It is only from the indestructible re- 

 mains of the architecture of Egypt, that 

 we are enabled to form any distinct idea 

 of the progress of science with this learn- 

 ed people ; who are said to have invented 

 geometry, and applied its principles to 

 the motion of the heavenly bodies. At 

 Tentyra, the great circle of the sphere is 

 described upon the ceiling of the temple 

 containing the twelve signs of the zodiac, 

 with many other astronomical figures in 

 the surrounding spaces. 



Their knowledge of geometry, and the 

 application of its principles to mechanics, 

 was astonishing, from the size and weight 

 of their materials, and principles of con- 

 struction, by which they have ensured du- 

 rability ; and transmitted to posterity 5 

 palaces and 34 temples, as monuments of 

 their science and industry 3000 years ago. 



Upon an examination of the principles 

 and practice of the architecture of the 

 three countries, India, Persia, and Egypt, 

 it will appear upon investigation that the 

 edifices of Hindostan consist principally 

 of excavation, where the column and hu- 

 man figure are rudely carved, without re. 

 ference to proportion or the nature of the 

 subject; and although we cannot fail to be 

 disgusted with the effect of the perform- 

 ance, we are compelled to admire their 

 industry. The resemblance of many 

 leading features of Hindoo architecture 

 to that of Egypt and Persia, particularly 

 those of Elephanta and Vellore, has in- 

 duced Sir William Jones and Dr. Robert- 

 son to conclude that the eastern quarter 

 of the world has a preferable claim to 

 originality ; and that all rudiments of 

 knowledge in the science was furnished 

 by India to both the other countries : 

 this is a mere matter of opinion, and can 

 only amount to evidence of an early inter- 

 course or communication of 'architectural 

 knowledge, as there is unquestionably 

 sufficient distinction in the character and 

 proportions of the whole, or parts, to 

 form separate schools. That of India 

 may be characterized by circular outlines 

 resembling the pagoda of the Chinese. 

 The ancient Persian, consisting princi- 

 pally of edifices above ground with slender 

 columns of small diameter, lightly and 

 delicately decorated with feathers and 

 silk, ornamental pannels in basso relievo, 

 resembling the sumptuous corinthian of 

 the Romans. 



That of Egypt, grand and massy fea- 

 tures, diminishing from the base upward, 

 forming pyrimidal figures, remarkable 



