DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0291
Chap. II.
PILLARS.
227
uecking of tlie capital, but in t-he great examples executed during tke
18tb djnasty tbe pillars conti'act again at tbe base, as in tbe next
woodcut, wkicb gives a degree of ligbtness ancl ele-
gance to tbeir otberwise too massive forms tbat is
singularly pleasing.
Tlre best example of tbe order is found in tbe
lateral colonnades of tbe great liall at Karnac (wood-
cutKo. 170 fartber on), but tbere are scarcely any of
tbe temples of tbe great age tbat bave not specimens
of it. At first siglit its form is so peculiar, and so
unmeaning, tlrat it bas never been copied out of
Egypt, tbougb all lier otber orders are found else-
wbere.
A large class of pillars bave capitals resembling
tbe calyx or bell of a flower, but tbe form is so con-
ventional, and, as no examples of tbe order are found
of a date anterior to tlie great 18th dynasty, we fincl
it only so far removed from its origin, tbat it is diffi-
cult to trace it backward to its source.
Tlie typical example of tbis style is found in the
Hypostyle Hall at Karnac, wbere tbe pillars are 70 ft.
in beigbt to tbe uncler sicle of tbe arcbitrave, and
more tban balf tbat in circumference at a little above
tbe base.
Those, liowever, of tbe Kbamession (woodcut No.
163), on tbe other side of tbe Nile, tbough only 30 ft.
in beigbt, are perbaps more graceful, tbougb certainly neitber so
majestic nor so characteristic of Egyptian art.
Of tbese capitals tbe papyrus cup may be considerecl as the typical
form, but tbere are also in Egypt some decidedly lotus forms. Some-
times tlie bell of tbe capital is adorned witb palm leaves, or reecls, or
conventional vegetable forms. In tbe Ptolemaic period tbe Greeks
showed. a peculiar preference for tliis order, from its resemblance to
tbeir favourite Corintbian order, wbicb in fact was copiecl from it, and
tliey adorned it, not only as tbe Egyptians bad done, but in fifiy fan-
tastic ways, many of tbem far from being conducive to its appropriate-
ness or architectural beauty.
Anotber class of pillars is, as far as taste is concerned, tbe
most questionable of any. Its peculiarity consists in employing Isis
beads or figures of Typbon, or otber deities, as tbe ornaments of its
capitals. .
Tbe origin of tlrese is easily explained ; for early examples exist
sbowing tbe Isis head, eitber painted or sculptured in low relief, on
tbe face or faces of square piers, and gradually tbe relief and promi-
nence of tbe bead became greater and greater, ancl tbe column
more ancl more attenuated, till wo come to tbe typical specimen of
Hendera (woodcut No. 165), of tbe lloman age. It cannot, however,
be regarded as an example of tbe bad taste of modern tirnes, as an
Isis-beaded capital, represented in the woodcut No. 164, is found
Q 2
I’illar t'rom ISeni
Hassan.
PILLARS.
227
uecking of tlie capital, but in t-he great examples executed during tke
18tb djnasty tbe pillars conti'act again at tbe base, as in tbe next
woodcut, wkicb gives a degree of ligbtness ancl ele-
gance to tbeir otberwise too massive forms tbat is
singularly pleasing.
Tlre best example of tbe order is found in tbe
lateral colonnades of tbe great liall at Karnac (wood-
cutKo. 170 fartber on), but tbere are scarcely any of
tbe temples of tbe great age tbat bave not specimens
of it. At first siglit its form is so peculiar, and so
unmeaning, tlrat it bas never been copied out of
Egypt, tbougb all lier otber orders are found else-
wbere.
A large class of pillars bave capitals resembling
tbe calyx or bell of a flower, but tbe form is so con-
ventional, and, as no examples of tbe order are found
of a date anterior to tlie great 18th dynasty, we fincl
it only so far removed from its origin, tbat it is diffi-
cult to trace it backward to its source.
Tlie typical example of tbis style is found in the
Hypostyle Hall at Karnac, wbere tbe pillars are 70 ft.
in beigbt to tbe uncler sicle of tbe arcbitrave, and
more tban balf tbat in circumference at a little above
tbe base.
Those, liowever, of tbe Kbamession (woodcut No.
163), on tbe other side of tbe Nile, tbough only 30 ft.
in beigbt, are perbaps more graceful, tbougb certainly neitber so
majestic nor so characteristic of Egyptian art.
Of tbese capitals tbe papyrus cup may be considerecl as the typical
form, but tbere are also in Egypt some decidedly lotus forms. Some-
times tlie bell of tbe capital is adorned witb palm leaves, or reecls, or
conventional vegetable forms. In tbe Ptolemaic period tbe Greeks
showed. a peculiar preference for tliis order, from its resemblance to
tbeir favourite Corintbian order, wbicb in fact was copiecl from it, and
tliey adorned it, not only as tbe Egyptians bad done, but in fifiy fan-
tastic ways, many of tbem far from being conducive to its appropriate-
ness or architectural beauty.
Anotber class of pillars is, as far as taste is concerned, tbe
most questionable of any. Its peculiarity consists in employing Isis
beads or figures of Typbon, or otber deities, as tbe ornaments of its
capitals. .
Tbe origin of tlrese is easily explained ; for early examples exist
sbowing tbe Isis head, eitber painted or sculptured in low relief, on
tbe face or faces of square piers, and gradually tbe relief and promi-
nence of tbe bead became greater and greater, ancl tbe column
more ancl more attenuated, till wo come to tbe typical specimen of
Hendera (woodcut No. 165), of tbe lloman age. It cannot, however,
be regarded as an example of tbe bad taste of modern tirnes, as an
Isis-beaded capital, represented in the woodcut No. 164, is found
Q 2
I’illar t'rom ISeni
Hassan.