DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0342
320
CHAPTER II.
LATEST OAVES AT AJANTA.
The third group of twelve caves, into which the Ajanta excavations
naturally divide themselves, is the largest; consisting of the first fire
caves from the western end and the last seven at the other extremity.
In some respects also it is the most magnificent. Caves I. and IV.
being the largest Viharas here, and also the most elaborately orna-
mented, and XXVI. the richest, though not the largest of the
Chaityas. They have not, however, the same beauty of design and
detail which characterises the central group, and show evident
symptoms that the art was tending towards decay.
There are no inscriptions from which their age can be ascertained
with precision, but their architectural details and other indications
are sufficient to enable us to feel confident that nearly the whole of
them belong to the seventh century, as those of the central group
belong certainly to the sixth. Some of them it is true may have
been commenced in the sixth, but none were finished before tie
following century, and the works, some of them, such as those from
XXII. to XXIV., which are unfinished, were probably continued till
nearly the end of it. They certainly were not abandoned before 650,
and may have been continued 20 or 30 years after that time.
Cave I. is one of the finest Viharas of its kind. Certainly no
Vihara at Ajanta has been so handsomely ornamented as this one.
Its facade is the only instance here of a Vihara decorated with sculp-
ture. In front of the verandah there has been a porch (Plate XL.],
supported by two advanced columns, of which only fragments of the
bases and elegant capitals remain; at each end, outside the verandan.
there is a room whose open front is supported by two pillars, e
floors being raised a few steps in order that the elaborate entabl*"
ture of the facade might be carried round the whole front at
i i ^x feet
same level. The room on the east opens into another nearly ^2x
square, and all but perfectly dark; that on the left opens into tt
others somewhat smaller. In the verandah are six columns and
pilasters (Plate XLI.) The pair in the middle, which originally forme
CHAPTER II.
LATEST OAVES AT AJANTA.
The third group of twelve caves, into which the Ajanta excavations
naturally divide themselves, is the largest; consisting of the first fire
caves from the western end and the last seven at the other extremity.
In some respects also it is the most magnificent. Caves I. and IV.
being the largest Viharas here, and also the most elaborately orna-
mented, and XXVI. the richest, though not the largest of the
Chaityas. They have not, however, the same beauty of design and
detail which characterises the central group, and show evident
symptoms that the art was tending towards decay.
There are no inscriptions from which their age can be ascertained
with precision, but their architectural details and other indications
are sufficient to enable us to feel confident that nearly the whole of
them belong to the seventh century, as those of the central group
belong certainly to the sixth. Some of them it is true may have
been commenced in the sixth, but none were finished before tie
following century, and the works, some of them, such as those from
XXII. to XXIV., which are unfinished, were probably continued till
nearly the end of it. They certainly were not abandoned before 650,
and may have been continued 20 or 30 years after that time.
Cave I. is one of the finest Viharas of its kind. Certainly no
Vihara at Ajanta has been so handsomely ornamented as this one.
Its facade is the only instance here of a Vihara decorated with sculp-
ture. In front of the verandah there has been a porch (Plate XL.],
supported by two advanced columns, of which only fragments of the
bases and elegant capitals remain; at each end, outside the verandan.
there is a room whose open front is supported by two pillars, e
floors being raised a few steps in order that the elaborate entabl*"
ture of the facade might be carried round the whole front at
i i ^x feet
same level. The room on the east opens into another nearly ^2x
square, and all but perfectly dark; that on the left opens into tt
others somewhat smaller. In the verandah are six columns and
pilasters (Plate XLI.) The pair in the middle, which originally forme