Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/344

 Tub Hall ok a Hundred Columns. -327 corresponding with those vertical grooves which the Assyrian builder made use of to break the monotony of the surfaces of his great mud walls/ As at Shapur, here also arc figured, along the three sides destitute of colonnades, bulls' heads that project from the wall frieze fashion, and recall the device of the capitals. Fjnally, on the precedent of the bull at Persepolis (Fig. 152) and the Ecbatana lion, we have set a griffin upon a plinth at the summit of every anta ; for we may reasonably suppose that the Persian architect introduced decorative figures in the same situation as the Greek acroteria, the outline of which stood out against the azure sky. To facilitate the outflow of the throng, which, as soon as the solemnities were over, would effect a precipitate retreat and cause a crush in the porch, a private door was pierced in each of the lateral walls. The only windows of the edifice were in the north side and looked upon the porch. The entrances of the latter, wider and loftier than those of the remaining faces, were used by the king, the courtiers, and the guards forming his retinue. The sculptures adorning their jambs were naturally more important than those about the other doorways.* There are no traces of g^rooves for doors, windows, or sockets for hinges ; a veil was drawn across them, which was almost entirely let down during the day, so as to exclude the rays of die sun (as shown in Plate VII.) or the heated dazzling floor. It is clear that sufficient light could not have entered the long aisles from the eight openings, and that some parts would always have been in deep darkness. We have therefore slightly raised the roof towards the centre of the building, and devis«l rectangular apertures in the timber casing forming the walls of this kind of lantern. Though small, these slits would let in sufficient light for an Eastern household. During our survey of the edifices of Egypt and Assyria, the fact was made manifest to us that the architects of those countries were particularly mindful to secure for their apartments an atmosphere considerably lower than that outside. Hence it is that to attain this result they « were content with, a feeble light, even for those interiors most richly decorated.* » I/ts/. of Art, torn. ii. pp. 259-263, Figs. 102-197. south doors is 3 m. 15 c ; whilst those of the main fa^de are 4 3 c> wide.
 * The width of the four doorways west and east is s m. 6 c. ; lhat of the two
 * Hilt. o/Arit torn. I p. 364 ; torn. ii. pfk 186-194*