Page:A History of Art in Chaldæa & Assyria Vol 1.djvu/206

 8 4 A HISTORY OF ART IN CIIALU.EA AND ASSYRIA. " The houses of the Armenian peasantry," he says, " are sunk into the ground, so that their walls stand up but little above the level of the soil. They are lighted by an opening that serves at once for window and chimney, and is placed, as a rule, in the centre of the roof. The timber frame of this opening is often ingeniously arranged (Fig. 6r). Four thick beams, but very roughly squared, intersect each other in the middle of the house. Across their angles slighter joists are placed, and this operation 10 X 30 <0 OiOi- FIGS. 62 65. Terra-cotta cylinders in elevation, section and plan ; from Place. is repeated till a small dome, open at the top, for the entrance of light and the escape of smoke, has been erected.". 1 In the case of vaults how are we to suppose that the rooms were lighted ? We can hardly imagine that rectangular openings were left in the crown of the arch, such a contrivance would have admitted very little light, while it would have seriously com- promised the safety of the structure. According to M. Place the 1 BOTT.A, Monument de Ninirc, vol. v. p. 73.