Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/448

 396 DRAVIDIAN STYLE. BOOK III. gopuram in the town, represented in the woodcut (No. 231). It is small, however, in comparison with those we have just been describing, being only 84 ft. across and about 130 ft. in height. Those of 5rirangam and Madura have, or were intended to have, at least double these dimensions. It is, however, a richly-ornamented example of its class, and the preceding woodcut conveys a fair impression of the effect of these buildings generally. It is not old enough to be quite of the best age, but it is still not so modern as to have lost all the character and expression of the earlier examples. VELLOR AND PERUR. Although the temples at Vellor and at Perur, near Koimbatur, can only rank among the second class as regards size, they possess porticos of extreme interest to architectural history, and are consequently worthy of more attention than has been bestowed upon them. That at Vellor, however, is unfortunately situated in the fort occupied by the British, and has consequently been utilised as a store. Walls have been built between its piers, and whitewash and fittings have reduced it to that con- dition which we think appropriate for the noblest works of art in India. Enough, however, still remains to enable us to see that the Kalyana mantapam here, though not one of the most elegant, is one of the oldest porches in the south. As will be seen from the woodcut (No. 232), the Vyalis and rearing horsemen are clearly and sharply cut, and far from being so extravagant as they sometimes are. The great cornice, too, with its double flexures and its little trellis-work of supports, is not only very elegant in form, but one of those marvels of patient industry, such as are to be found hardly anywhere else. There are many such cornices, however, in the south : one at Avadaiyar-kovil, in Tanjor district, is deeper and more elaborate than even this one. The outer facing there is said to be only about an inch in thickness, and its network of supports is more elaborate and more delicate than those at Vellor, though it is difficult to understand how either was ever executed in so hard a material. The traditions of the place assign the erection of the Vellor mantapam variously to the year 1350, and according to other accounts to about 1485. The bracket shafts (Woodcut No. 233) are similar but even more elegant than those in Parvati's porch at Chidambaram ; but they are some of them at least attached to the pier by very elegant open-work, such as is found in Pratapa Rudra's temple at Worangal (Woodcut No. 252), or in the windows at Halebid. As both these examples are earlier than 1300, it