DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29898#0232
196
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE.
Part I.
On the side of a hill overlooking the plain is a platform of masonry
(Woodcut ISTo. 82) which originally supported either a temple or fire-
altar, but this has now entirely disappeared, and the structure is only
remarkable for the beauty of its masonry and the large dimensions of
the stones with whichit is built. These are drafted (Woodcut No. 83),
not only at their joints but often on their faces, with the same flat
sinking as is found in all the Jewish works at Jerusalem, and
sometimes in Greek buildings of the best age. Thus an ornament of
great beauty and elegance is formed out of what would otherwise be
merely a plain mass of masonry.
The tomb of Cyrus has already been referred to (p. 164) as a copy in
stone of one of the ziggurats or terrace-temples. But it must be borne
in mind that the most celebrated example of this form is as often called
the tomb, as the temple of Belus j1 and among a Turanian people the
tomb and the temple may be considered as one and the same thing.
The tomb is surrounded on three sides 2 by a portico of columns standing
14 feet apart: no stone capitals have been found, but it is probable
that the columns carried wooden bracket-capitals to diminish the
bearing of the wooden architrave or beam which supported the roof.
Beyond the portico there are the traces of a second enclosure 25 feet
wide, which, from its width, was probably an open court.
On the plain are the remains of buildings, three of which were
palaces, and one the ruin of a tomb. The plan of one of them, called
the palace of Cyrus, has been measured and published by M. Texier,
MM. Flandin & Coste, and M. Dieulafoy, and although the restoration
vi. 26.
2 Texier shows columns on the fourth
side.
1 It is calied tomb by Strabo, lib. xvi.,
and Diodorus, xvii. 112, 3; temple, Hero-
dotus, i. 181, Arrian, vii. 17, 2, Pliny,
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE.
Part I.
On the side of a hill overlooking the plain is a platform of masonry
(Woodcut ISTo. 82) which originally supported either a temple or fire-
altar, but this has now entirely disappeared, and the structure is only
remarkable for the beauty of its masonry and the large dimensions of
the stones with whichit is built. These are drafted (Woodcut No. 83),
not only at their joints but often on their faces, with the same flat
sinking as is found in all the Jewish works at Jerusalem, and
sometimes in Greek buildings of the best age. Thus an ornament of
great beauty and elegance is formed out of what would otherwise be
merely a plain mass of masonry.
The tomb of Cyrus has already been referred to (p. 164) as a copy in
stone of one of the ziggurats or terrace-temples. But it must be borne
in mind that the most celebrated example of this form is as often called
the tomb, as the temple of Belus j1 and among a Turanian people the
tomb and the temple may be considered as one and the same thing.
The tomb is surrounded on three sides 2 by a portico of columns standing
14 feet apart: no stone capitals have been found, but it is probable
that the columns carried wooden bracket-capitals to diminish the
bearing of the wooden architrave or beam which supported the roof.
Beyond the portico there are the traces of a second enclosure 25 feet
wide, which, from its width, was probably an open court.
On the plain are the remains of buildings, three of which were
palaces, and one the ruin of a tomb. The plan of one of them, called
the palace of Cyrus, has been measured and published by M. Texier,
MM. Flandin & Coste, and M. Dieulafoy, and although the restoration
vi. 26.
2 Texier shows columns on the fourth
side.
1 It is calied tomb by Strabo, lib. xvi.,
and Diodorus, xvii. 112, 3; temple, Hero-
dotus, i. 181, Arrian, vii. 17, 2, Pliny,