Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/489

Rh fiK. Ilv. Clf. V. ANI. 473 of churches so various. All being small, there were no constructive difficulties to be encountered, and as no congregation was to be accommodated, the architects apparently considered themselves at liberty to follow their fancies in any manner that occurred to them. The consequence is that the plans of Armenian churches defy classi- fication ; some are square, or rectangles of every conceivable propor- tion of length to breadth, some octagons or hexagons, and some of the most indescribable irregularity. Frequently two, three, or four 929. Tomb at Varzaluui. (From Layard's "Nineveh and Babylon.") are grouped and joined together. In some instances the sacred num- ber of seven are coupled together in one design, though more gen- erally each little church is an independent erection ; but they are all so small that their plans are of comparatively little importance. No grandeur of effect or poetry of perspective can be obtained without considerable dimensions, and these are not to be found in Armenia. There are also some examples of circular churches, but these are far from being numerous. Generally speaking they are tombs, or con- nected with sepulchral rites, and are indeed mere amplifications of the usual tombs of the natives of the country, which are generally