DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0333
Chap. II.
WOODEN TEMPLES.
309
modes of decoration when using the same materials for like purposes,
and under similar climatic influences. Although it may, consequently
be impossible to trace any influence that the people of the Himalayas
could have exerted on the peoples of the north-west of Europe, it is
by no means clear that in these wooden structures we may not find the
germ of much that is now perplexing us with regard to the earlier forms
of Hindu stone architecture. Like Buddhist architecture, there can
hardly be a doubt that much of it was derived from wooden originals,
and it is difficult to see any locality where wooden styles were likely
to be earlier adopted and longer practised than in those valleys where
the Deodar pine is abundant, and forms so excellent and so lasting a
building material.
An exploration of these valleys, would, no doubt, bring to light
many curious monuments, which would not only be interesting in
themselves, but might -t
throw considerable light i
on many now obscure .-;;',* - .
points of our inquiries. 'fi^MK^F^^Sm^'^
One monument, for in- ij&Si&y :': ' ^site
stance, has recently been
discovered by Major God-
win Austen near the foot
of the Naga hills in As-
sam, which is unlike any
other known to exist any-
where else.1 The temple
—if temple it may be
called—consists of a long
corridor, about 250 ft. in
length and 21 ft, wide,
the roof of which was
supported by pillars
richly carved, spaced 15
ft. to 21 ft, apart; But
its most remarkable fea-
tures are two rows—one
of sixteen, the other of
seventeen monoliths-
standing in front of this.
The tallest is 15 ft., the smallest 8 ft. 5 in., the general range being
from 12 to 13 ft. in height, and 18 ft. to 20 ft. in circumference.
Monoliths at Dunapur.
(From a Drawing by Major Godwin Austen.)
1 The following particulars are taken
from a payer by Major Austen in the
' Journal of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal,1 vol. xliii. part i., 1874.
WOODEN TEMPLES.
309
modes of decoration when using the same materials for like purposes,
and under similar climatic influences. Although it may, consequently
be impossible to trace any influence that the people of the Himalayas
could have exerted on the peoples of the north-west of Europe, it is
by no means clear that in these wooden structures we may not find the
germ of much that is now perplexing us with regard to the earlier forms
of Hindu stone architecture. Like Buddhist architecture, there can
hardly be a doubt that much of it was derived from wooden originals,
and it is difficult to see any locality where wooden styles were likely
to be earlier adopted and longer practised than in those valleys where
the Deodar pine is abundant, and forms so excellent and so lasting a
building material.
An exploration of these valleys, would, no doubt, bring to light
many curious monuments, which would not only be interesting in
themselves, but might -t
throw considerable light i
on many now obscure .-;;',* - .
points of our inquiries. 'fi^MK^F^^Sm^'^
One monument, for in- ij&Si&y :': ' ^site
stance, has recently been
discovered by Major God-
win Austen near the foot
of the Naga hills in As-
sam, which is unlike any
other known to exist any-
where else.1 The temple
—if temple it may be
called—consists of a long
corridor, about 250 ft. in
length and 21 ft, wide,
the roof of which was
supported by pillars
richly carved, spaced 15
ft. to 21 ft, apart; But
its most remarkable fea-
tures are two rows—one
of sixteen, the other of
seventeen monoliths-
standing in front of this.
The tallest is 15 ft., the smallest 8 ft. 5 in., the general range being
from 12 to 13 ft. in height, and 18 ft. to 20 ft. in circumference.
Monoliths at Dunapur.
(From a Drawing by Major Godwin Austen.)
1 The following particulars are taken
from a payer by Major Austen in the
' Journal of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal,1 vol. xliii. part i., 1874.