Fergusson, James: A history of architecture in all countries, from the earliest times to the present day: in five volumes (Band 1) (London, 1893)

Bk. I. Ch. III.

FIRST THEBAN KINGDOM.

115

employed by tlie Greeks, as to have been frequently described as the
Proto-Doric order.1 The same class of column is also used internally,
supporting a plain architrave beam, from which spring curvilinear roofs

of segmented form, which there is no doubt are imitations of construc-
tive arch forms.

There is another form of pillar used at Beni-Hasan at that early
age2 which is still further removed
from stone than even the Proto-Doric.

It imitates a bundle of four reeds or
lotus-stalks bound together near the
top, and bulging above the ligature so
as to form a capital. Such a pier
must evidently have been originally
employed in wooden architecture only,
and the roof which it supports is in
this instance of light wooden con-
struction, having the slight slope re-
quisite in the dry climate of Egypt.

Lotus Pier, Zawyet-el-Mayyilur.
(From Lepsius.)

In after ages this form of pillar became a great favourite with the

1 The researches of Mr. Petrie at
Kahun have shown that originally this
form of column was in wood, which would
account for the base on which, in Egyp-
tian work, it is always placed.

2 In a tomb of the 4th dynasty found
at Sakkara is a wall decoration in which
the lotus column is used in a friezo,
cxamples of it being carved in low relief
to scparate tlie tigurcs in a proccssion
o

I