1848.] Essay on the Avian Order of Architecture. 317 



Ionic capital three-fourths of a diameter, and the Corinthian capital, the 

 last improvement of the Greeks, one whole diameter. Now in all the 

 examples that I have seen, excepting only that of Avantipura, the height 

 of the capital is made equal to the upper diameter of the column. If 

 this was not borrowed, the Kashmirian builders would seem to have 

 decided upon the same proportion as the Greek architects for the height 

 of a capital. For the Greek capitals were made in parts of the upper 

 diameter, and not of the lower diameter. Thus the Parthenon Doric 

 capital is exactly one half of the upper diameter in height. Such also 

 are the Doric capitals of the Propylsea, of the temple of Theseus and of 

 the old temple at Corinth. From the annular channel it is true that 

 the height is one half of the lower diameter : but measured from the 

 lowest annulet, the height is exactly one half of the upper diameter. 

 And this was undoubtedly the capital of the pillar ; for I believe that 

 the annular channel was intended solely for the reception of a metal 

 ring to prevent the splitting of the columns at top from the insertion of 

 stone or metal fastenings for the purpose of holding the architraves. 

 And yet these channels are slavishly copied now-a-days, and left empty. 

 So also did the Chinese tailor copy the sailor's jacket, patches and all. 



2. — In the Marttand examples the capital is divided into three nearly 

 equal parts, of which the lowest consists of an astragal and an orna- 

 mented echinos ; above which is the neck of the same width as the 

 upper diameter of the column. Over this is a fillet and a high apophyge 

 surmounted by two fillets, and a second echinos, or quirked ovolo. In 

 the square pillars the apophyge is made straight, most probably to 

 assimilate it more closely to the straight-lined character of the columns. 

 In the Avantipura example the same triple division is observable, but in 

 unequal parts ; the upper portion being the least, the middle one some- 

 what larger, and the lowest portion the greatest. 



3. — In the Pampur example the upper member is only one-fifth of 

 the height, while the central and lower members are each two fifths. 

 In this specimen the lower echinos, which has thus been enlarged, has 

 a row of lotus leaves surmounting the egg ornaments, which are them- 

 selves separated by rows of small beads. The central portion has also 

 been altered ; for the epitrachelium, or adhikantha, is here divided into 

 two portions, the upper one being, as in the other examples ; while the 

 lower portion is made to swell out into a filleted moulding. In all these 



