Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/122

 BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE. BOOK I. most convenient landmark in architectural history, were it not that the whole of its exterior is completely peeled off, so that no architectural mouldings remain, and, apparently from the difficulty of ascertaining them, no dimensions are quoted in the text. 1 About one - half of the others contained relics, but none were found to be so rich as this. In general appearance they differ considerably from the great Indian topes just described, being taller in proportion to their breadth, and having a far more tower-like appearance, than any found in India, except the Sarnath example. They are mostly smaller, one of the largest at Daranta being only 160 ft in circumference or about 51 ft. in diameter. This is about the usual size of the topes in Afghanistan, the second class being a little more than 100 ft, while many are much smaller. There are, however, some of larger size, for Mr. William Simpson found the circumference of the Ahin-posh stupa to be about 250 ft., and of the Umar Khel tope at Daranta, a rough measurement gave 300 ft. circumference to the circular drum. 2 In every instance they seem to have rested on a square base, though in many this has been removed, and in others it is buried in rubbish ; in many cases also, if not always, there was a deep plinth or low terrace below this base. Above this rises a circular drum, crowned by a belt sometimes composed merely of two architectural string-courses, with different coloured stones disposed as a diaper pattern between them. Sometimes a range of plain pilasters occupies this space. More generally the pilasters are joined by arches sometimes circular, sometimes of an ogee form. In one instance the Red (Surkh) Tope they are alternately circular and three-sided arches. That this belt represents the enclosing rail at Sanchi and the pilastered base at Manikyala need not be doubted. It shows, however, a very considerable change in style to find it elevated so far up the monument as it is here. Generally speaking, the dome or roof rises immediately above this, but no example in this group retains its termination in a perfect state. Some appear to have had hemispherical roofs, some more nearly conical, of greater or less steepness of pitch ; and some (like that represented in Woodcut No. 21) had, perhaps, only a slight elevation in the centre. It seems possible there may have been some connection between the shape of the roof and the purpose for which the tope was raised, or the age 1 ' Ariana Antiqua,' p. 109. - ' Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects,' 1879-80, p. 53. The Nagara-gundi tope, at old Nagarahara, appears to have been also of similar size. One between Cherat and Giiniyar passes in Swat, is 140 ft. in circumference at the bottom of the cylindric part. Foucher, ' L'Art Greco-Bouddhique du Gandhara,' tome i. p, 65.