Page images
PDF
EPUB

rails. The projecting cornice of this altar or pedestal is restored from the numerous representations of Topes amongst the bas-reliefs of the gateways. The cupola or umbrella-pinnacle is restored from existing fragments guided by the designs of Topes just mentioned. One piece is now lying on the top of the dome, and another at the foot of the breach. This cupola was 5 feet 6 inches in diameter, and 2 feet high. It is hollowed out underneath; and above it has a mortice 8 inches deep for the reception of a staff of a second cupola, such as we see represented in the bas-reliefs.

13. The total height of the building including the cupolas must have been upwards of one hundred feet.

to east, and 151

14. The base of the Tope is surrounded by a massive colonnade, 144 feet in diameter from west feet in diameter from north to south. This enclosure is therefore elliptical; the greater diameter exceeding the lesser by 7 feet. By this arrangement a free passage is obtained round the southern staircases, and a greater breadth at the foot of the ascent. The breadth of the cloister on the north-west and north-east sides averages 9 feet 7 inches, the several measurements only differing by a few inches. From east to south the cloister increases rapidly in width; the breadth at the east being only 9 feet 11 inches, and at the foot of the staircase 13 feet 8 inches. The elliptical form is

See two specimens in Plate III., figs. 1 and 2.

shown distinctly in my brother's plan,* although he does not mention it in his description.

15. The pillars of this colonnade are 9 feet 10 inches in height, with an average thickness of 1 foot 10 inches. The front and back of each pillar have three faces; a middle one, 9 inches in breadth, and two side ones, slightly bevelled, each 63 inches broad. The pillars are let into the ground from 15 to 18 inches. The interval or inter-columniation is 2 feet 11⁄2 inch.

16. The rails are three in number with intervals of 4 inches. Each rail is 2 feet 1 inch long, and the same broad. The section is formed of two intersecting circular segments, with a double versed sine of 9 inches, which forms the thickness of the rail. The mortices in the pillars are of the same section as the rails, and are from 3 to 4 inches in depth.

17. The architrave or coping is formed of long solid blocks rounded at top, each 2 feet 3 inches in height, by 2 feet 1 inch in thickness. Each beam spans two intercolumniations, and has three mortices for receiving the tenons of the three pillars. Some of the beams are connected together by tenons and mortices, and others by stone joggles.

18. A view of this remarkable stone-railing is given in Plate IX., which shows the general disposition of the numerous inscriptions. The style is evidently characteristic and conventional, as it is

* Journal As. Soc. Bengal, xvii. Plate XXVIII.

found wherever the Bauddha religion prevails.* It is in fact so peculiar to Buddhism that I have ventured to name it "the Buddhist railing." This peculiar railing is still standing around the principal Topes at Sánchi and Andher; and some pillars and other fragments are still lying around the great Topes at Sonári and Satdhára. The same railing was placed around the holy Bodhi Trees,† and the pillars dedicated to Buddha. The balconies of the City Gates, and of the King's Palace,|| were enclosed by it. It formed the bulwarks of the State Barge. It was used as an ornament for the capitals of columns, as on the northern pillar at Sánchi;* and generally for every plain band of architectural moulding. At Sánchi it is found in many places as an ornament on the horizontal bars which separate the bas-reliefs from each other.

19. The Sánchi railing has one entrance at each of the four cardinal points; as represented in the plan in Plate IV. Each entrance is covered in

No less than nine specimens of this kind of railing were found amongst the Bhilsa Topes, all of which are described in the following pages. In Plate IX. fig 3, I have added a specimen from the great Dipaldinna Mound at Amaravati, for the description of which see Prinsep's Journal, vol. vi. Plate X.

See coins, in Plates XXXI. and XXXII.

↑ See Plate XXXI. fig. 1, and Plate XXXII. fig. 11.

§ Bas-relief at Sánchi, Eastern Gateway, Plate XV. fig. 3. Bas-relief of Eastern Gateway-Fergusson's Illustrations. ¶ Bas-relief of Western Gateway, Left Pillar, Inner Face, No. III. **See Plate X.

front, and to the left (as seen from the outside), by a short railing of the same style. In after times another short railing was added to the right of each, and the entrance was changed to the front through a lofty gateway.

20. These four gateways are the most picturesque and valuable objects at Sánchi, as they are entirely covered with bas-reliefs representing various domestic scenes and religious ceremonies. Each gateway is formed of two square pillars, 2 feet 3 inches thick, and 13 feet 8 inches in height. The capitals of these pillars vary. The pillars of the western gate have each four human dwarfs; those of the southern gate have four lions; and those of the other gateways have four elephants surmounted by their riders. height of the capital is 4 feet 6 inches. The total height of the gateway is 18 feet 2 inches, and its breadth is 7 feet 1 inch.

The

21. The pillars are crowned by an architrave 19 feet 9 inches in length, with an arched rise of 4 inches in the middle, and a projection of 4 feet 5 inches on each side. These projecting ends are supported by brackets, each formed of the stem and foliage of a tree, beneath which is a náchni, or dancing woman. The style of hair and the peculiar bead-girdle of these female dancers, is so much like those of some of the Tibetan women of the present day, that one is naturally led to trace them to an Indo-Scythian origin; especially when we know that the Indo-Scythian power was paramount in India at

the very time that these gateways were erected.* A second architrave is placed above the other at a height of 2 feet 2 inches, and is supported by five uprights, of which two are simple continuations of the pillars. This second architrave is 2 feet and

inch in height; and its ends project only 4 feet 2 inches. Five uprights of the same height as this architrave, support a third architrave only 1 foot 9 inches, in height, with diminished projections of 3 feet 11 inches. The ends of the architraves are formed into narrow threaded volutes surmounted by winged lions. The open spaces between the uprights contain small figures of elephant riders below, and of horsemen above; and on the outside of the pillars there are small figures of female dancers.

22. The summit is crowned in the middle by a wheel (half broken) upwards of three feet in diameter, supported by four elephants. On each side, immediately above the pillars, there is a peculiar emblem, which will be described hereafter. Between each of these emblems and the wheel there is a male attend

• See Plate XIV. for one of these dancing figures. The features are quite Tibetan; and this peculiarity is so strong that it has struck others besides myself. Thus Captain Eyre writes to me : "A very remarkable feature in the sculptures is the peculiar Tartar-like physiognomies of the principal figures. How is this to be accounted for? The sculptors must have been familiar with that peculiar form of the 'human face divine,' or they would not so successfully have chiselled it. It seems to me probable, therefore, that the conquering race must have been of Tartar origin." For the complete figure, see the Frontispiece of Fergusson's Illustra

tions.

« PreviousContinue »