Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/87

 EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE. 29 (No. 5 f). Being flat, they could be used in dwelling-houses (No. 9) as a pleasant rendez^■ous for the family in the evening for the enjoyment of the view and the fresh breezes which spring up at sunset, and at certain seasons may have been used for repose. They may also have been used in the daytime, if protected from the sun by temporary awnings. The flat roofs of the temples seem to have been used in the priestly processions. In the rock- cut emples the ceilings are sometimes slightly arched in form, and as at the tombs at Beni-Hasan, the roofing is made to represent timber construction (No. 6). E. Columns. — The papyrus, a tall, smooth reed, and the lotus, a large white water-lily of exquisite beauty, offered many sugges- tions. The columns, seldom over six diameters in height, were made to represent the stalks, and at intervals appear to be tied l)y bands (No. 10). The capitals were mostly derived from the lotus plant (No. 10 D, E, f), as follows : — (a ) The lotus bud, conventionalized, tied round by stalks (No. 10 m). (/;.) The fully-grown lotus flower, which formed a bell-shaped capital, sculptured or ornamented with color decoration (No. 10 l). (c.) The " palm " capital, the main outline of the palius being painted or sculptured (No. 10 k). In addition, the Isis or Hathor-headed capital, as at Dendera and Philse, is foriued of heads of the goddess Isis, supporting the model of a pylon (No. 10 g). F. Mouldings. — These were few, viz., the hollow and bead generally used in conjunction, but the bead was also used by itself. The two combined invariably crowned the upper part of the pylons (Nos. 7 and 10 j, m), and walls. G. Ornament (No. 10). — This was symbolical, and was an important element in the style, including such features as the solar disc or globe and the vulture with outspread wings (No. 10 n), as a symbol of protection, while diaper patterns, spirals (No. 10 a, b) and the feather ornament (No. 10 c) were largely used. The scarab, or sacred beetle, was considered by the Egyptians as the sign of their religion, much in the same way as the cross became the symbol of Christianity. It probably attained its sacred character as the emblem of resurrection because of its habit of allowing the sun to hatch its eggs from a pellet of refuse. It must be remembered that the decoration of the walls of a temple consisted largely in acts of adoration on the part of the monarch to his gods, to whose protection he ascribed all his warlike successes. The Egyptians were masters in the use of color, chiefly using the primary ones — blue, red, and yellow. The wall to be decorated was prepared as follows : ((/) It was first chiselled smooth and covered with a thin layer of plaster or cement,