Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/400

 322 /Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. pSTov., A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE: THE HINDOO. THE Sacred Edifices of Hindustan, from their acknowledged profound antiquity, the stupendous nature of their construction, and the colossal sculptures, with which they are covered and embel- lished so profusely, have been deservedly the subject of deep research and discus- sion, among antiquarians of our day. Ingenuity has been taxed to the utmost, and conjecture exhausted, in the various theories, that from time to time have been propounded, as to what period, in the history of our globe, these gigantic structures and excavations were con- ceived, and brought into existence ; for what purposes they were originally in- tended ; and as to the meaning of the sculptured figures on their walls. It would be a needless waste of time for us to recapitulate all these theories, the more so, that they would only tend to bewilder and confuse the general reader. Thej r are well worthy the patient and careful consideration of any art-student, and would amply repay the trouble. Suf- fice it for us to say, that there is great difference of opinion, among the highest and most learned authorities, as to the antiquity of both the wonderful Rock- cut Temples and the Pagodas of Hindoo Architecture, while there are few cir- cumstances, to prove which is right. The most general belief is, that, upwards of twenty centuries ago, there existed, in the East, a nation who, if we may judge by the ancient records of history, and the monumental remains of their art, must have been very far advanced, in- deed, in a state of civilization and knowledge of the fine arts. Of their Domestic Architecture, we have, now, no certain knowledge, as the grandeur, magnificence and wealth of their cities, — the ancient Oude, Lahore, Delhi, Agra and Canouge, — have passed away, with their political greatness ; and are now but matters of very vague and conflict- ing history. From the most reliable sources, however, we gather that Oude, the capital of the province of Oude,, in the northeast of Bengal, was the first imperial city of Hindustan ; and, by the most moderate computation, is said to have extended over a line of 40 miles in length. It remained' the imperial city for 1500 years, till about 1000 B. C, when one of the Emperors changed the seat of Government to a city, called "Canouge," on the banks of the Ganges, which, in time, rose to be, according to Arrian, " the greatest city among the Indians." Its form was quadrangular, the sides eight miles long, surrounded by wooden fortifications, with 570 towers or turrets for archers to shoot from, and 65 gates or entrances into the city. Ca- nouge flourished, withmore or less steadi- ness, under successive monarchs, down to the beginning of the sixth century, when it began to decline. Delhi, having been added to their dominions, became the metropolis of India. Even then, it is said to have contained 30,000 shops in its bazaars, which sold only Betel-nut. Delhi, Lahore, and Agra cannot boast of the antiquity of the two cities we have named ; and have never been their equals in point of extent ; although, it may be, they have surpassed them in splendor and magnificence. However, as before remarked, we now know little, or nothing, of the state of the Domestic Architecture of Hindu- stan, at that remote period ; but — the Religion of that country having ever remained unchanged through the deca- dence and fall of successive dynasties, we are able — through the grand and wonderful temples, which are to be found to this day, in various parts of that vast continent, in a more or less perfect state of preservation, silent but unerring wit-