Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/224

 174 THE INFLUENCE OF A PARABOLIC MOULDING IS 111 given Fergussoii's .J the octavo plate 8 of Mr. work. It consists of an outer court, a vestibule, and an apsiclal cliamber, in the apse of which is the chaitya. The sides of the vestibule are niches, containing colossal statues, (A in the section,) each of which stands upon a basement, A C, fig. 1. One of the mouldings, D C E, on this basement is of a form which seems peculiar to Indian architecture. The line D C is nearly a parabola, of which D is the vertex, E G the directrix, and F D E the axis. This parabolic moulding is not seen in the apsidal chamber. The walls of the aisle are quite plain. The roof of the body is hewn into a very obtusely pointed arched roof, and is partially ribbed, but otherwise unornamented. The pillars behind the chaitya are plain octagonal shafts, without base or capital. Those — which separate the rectangular part of the chamber from the aisle, and from which the roof springs, are all of the character of fig. 2, with some slight variations, which Avill be specified below. They consist of an abacus, capital, shaft, and base. The abacus is richly carved, and varies much in the sculptures which ornament it. This portion of every Indian order is very conspicuous, and Sanscrit archi- tects have made its kinds to be two, which they have named the vira-kanth and the phul-band; the former comprehending all those which represent objects belonging to the animal kingdom, and the latter having sculptures referring to veget- able productions. The Kenneri abacus is always a vira-kanth. The cushion capital D, the neck E, and the roll E, the octa- gonal shaft, the roll G, the neck(?) H, the singularly shaped base I, and the square mouldings K, are the same in all the pillars. The beads J, which vary in number, being 28; 33, or 34, are sometimes replaced by a rope moulding. The diameter of the shaft seems to be 2.42 ft., and the intercolum- niation 2.5 ft. It is probable, however, that the intercolum- niation is intended to be a diameter. Eor the rock being a volcanic tufa, is in some parts a crumbling sand and in others Fig. 1.