DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0213
190
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
the last described it is very much ruined, and not particularly in-
teresting either from its form or history.
Some excavations that have recently been undertaken have dis-
closed the fact that the Ruanwelli dagoba had at its base three offsets,
or procession paths, rising like steps, one behind and above the other,
but with no ornament now apparent, except a plain Buddhist rail of
two bars on the outer edge of the two lower ones, and of an elephant
cornice to the upper. It can hardly, however, be doubted that the
inner faces were originally plastered, and painted with historical scenes.
9S. Elevation of front of Staircase, Huanwclli Dagoba. No Scale.
On each of the four fronts of this dagoba was an ornamental projection
containing and partially concealing the flights of steps by which access
was had to these galleries.1 From the photographs, it is not clear
where the steps were that lead to the first, but those leading from the
first to the second and third were arranged like those at Sancbi
(Woodcut No. 11) behind this frontispiece. Without a plan, however,
it is difficult to make out exactly what the arrangement may have
been.
A precisely similar arrangement of stairs exists on the four faces
of the Abhayagiri and Jetawana dagobas, to that shown in the two
Woodcuts Nos. 98, 99, and consists first of a plain base, above which is
a frieze of elephants' heads with patera) between them, very like those
used in the metopes of the Roman Doric order ; above this are three
plain faces divided by ornamental string courses. Then a bracket
cornice with patene again, and above this two or three more cornices.
Above this there was probably a parapet simulating a Buddhist rail.
At each end of this projecting arrangement were two stelse—at
the Ruanwelli the inner covered by a foliaged pattern, the outer by
1 In the photographs it is called an altar, whieh it certainly was not.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
the last described it is very much ruined, and not particularly in-
teresting either from its form or history.
Some excavations that have recently been undertaken have dis-
closed the fact that the Ruanwelli dagoba had at its base three offsets,
or procession paths, rising like steps, one behind and above the other,
but with no ornament now apparent, except a plain Buddhist rail of
two bars on the outer edge of the two lower ones, and of an elephant
cornice to the upper. It can hardly, however, be doubted that the
inner faces were originally plastered, and painted with historical scenes.
9S. Elevation of front of Staircase, Huanwclli Dagoba. No Scale.
On each of the four fronts of this dagoba was an ornamental projection
containing and partially concealing the flights of steps by which access
was had to these galleries.1 From the photographs, it is not clear
where the steps were that lead to the first, but those leading from the
first to the second and third were arranged like those at Sancbi
(Woodcut No. 11) behind this frontispiece. Without a plan, however,
it is difficult to make out exactly what the arrangement may have
been.
A precisely similar arrangement of stairs exists on the four faces
of the Abhayagiri and Jetawana dagobas, to that shown in the two
Woodcuts Nos. 98, 99, and consists first of a plain base, above which is
a frieze of elephants' heads with patera) between them, very like those
used in the metopes of the Roman Doric order ; above this are three
plain faces divided by ornamental string courses. Then a bracket
cornice with patene again, and above this two or three more cornices.
Above this there was probably a parapet simulating a Buddhist rail.
At each end of this projecting arrangement were two stelse—at
the Ruanwelli the inner covered by a foliaged pattern, the outer by
1 In the photographs it is called an altar, whieh it certainly was not.