Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/252

 2l8 BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE. BOOK I. (Woodcut No. 124), it is not only small in dimensions, but simple in its arrangements as simple, indeed, as any of those at Katak or in the western Ghats. Like some of them it has a raised bench, not, however, divided into beds as there, but more like a continuous seat. 1 It no doubt, however, was used for both purposes. Its most remarkable peculiarity, however, is its Ionic order. As will be seen, the bases of the Plan of Ionic Monastery, Shah-Dheri. (From a pillars are of the USUal Scale 5 o ft. f ormj anc j as correct as any that could be found in Greece or Rome, from before the Christian Era to the age of Constantine, and, though the capital is not fully made out, there can be little doubt what was intended (Woodcut No. 125). Twelve coins of Azes were found close by, from which it may be inferred the building was not of earlier date than his age, or the 1st century B.C., 2 and there is nothing in the architecture to militate against this idea. It seems the oldest thing yet found in this province. Plan by General Cunningham.) to i in. The extraordinary classical character and the beauty of the sculptures found in these 125, Gandhara monasteries is of such surpassing ionic pniar, Shah- interest for the history of Indian art, that it (From a Drawing by ls f the utmost importance their age should General Cunningham.) be determined, if it is possible to do so. At present, sufficient materials do not exist in this country to enable the general public to form a correct opinion on any argument that may be brought forward on the subject ; nor will they be in a position to do so till the Government can be induced to bring some of them home. They are quite thrown away where they now are ; here, they would hardly be surpassed in interest by any recent discoveries of the same class. Quite 1 Compare the plan of the Ramgarh cave, ' Indian Antiquary,' vol. ii. p. 245 ; or Cunningham's ' Archaeological Re- ports,' vol. xiii. p. 39 and plate to. 2 Assuming that his age has been correctly ascertained : Conf. ' Buddhist Art in India,' p. 78.