DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0693
Uhap. IV.
TEMPLE OF NAKHON WAT.
669
enclosure of the temple measures 1080 yards by 1100, and is sur-
rounded by a moat or ditch 230 yards wide. The moat is crossed on
the west by a splendid causeway, adorned by pillars on either side.
This leads to the great gateway, not unlike the gopura of a Dravidian
temple, five storeys in height, but extended by lateral galleries and
towers to a facade more than GOO ft. in extent. Within this a second
raised causeway, 370 yards long, leads to a cruciform platform in
front of the temple (shown in figure 1, AVoodcut No. 370). On either
side of this, about half-way down, is a detached temple, which any-
where else would be considered of importance, but here may be passed
over.
The general plan of the temple will be understood from the
woodcut (No. 370). It consists of three enclosures, one within the
other, each raised from 15 ft. to 20 ft. above the level of that outside
it, so as to give the whole a pyramidal form. The outer enclosure
measures 570 ft. by 650 ft., and covers, therefore, about 370,000 sq. ft.
The great temple at Karnac (Thebes) covers 430,000 sq. ft. There
are three portals, adorned with towers on each face, and on either
side of these are open galleries or verandahs, which, with their bas-
reliefs, are probably the most remarkable features of this temple.
Their external appearance will be understood from the Woodcut
No. 373; that of the interior from Woodcut No. 374; though
these illustrations are on too small a scale to do justice to their
magnificence.
Its appearance in elevation may be gathered from Woodcut No.
371, which shows it to be a pyramid more than GOO ft. in breadth
across its shortest width north and south, and rising to 180 ft. at the
summit of the central tower. It is, consequently, both larger and
higher than Boro Buddor, and notwithstanding the extraordinary ela-
boration of that temple it is probably surpassed by this one, both in the
extent of its ornamentation as well as in the delicacy of its carvings.
There may have been as much, or nearly as much, labour bestowed on
the colonnades at Bamisseram as on this temple ; but otherwise the
Indian example cannot compare with either of these two. It has
literally no outline, and practically no design; while both Nakhon
Wat and Boro Buddor are as remarkable for their architectural
designs as for their sculptural decorations.
The mechanical arrangements of the galleries or colonnades above
referred to are as perfect as their artistic design. These will be under-
stood from the diagram, Woodcut No. 372. On one side is a solid wall
of the most exquisite masonry, supporting the inner terrace of the
temple. It is built of large stones without cement, and so beautifully
fitted that it is difficult to detect the joints between two stones. At
a distance of 10 ft. G in. in front of this stands a range of square
piers, very much in the proportion of the Roman doric order, with
TEMPLE OF NAKHON WAT.
669
enclosure of the temple measures 1080 yards by 1100, and is sur-
rounded by a moat or ditch 230 yards wide. The moat is crossed on
the west by a splendid causeway, adorned by pillars on either side.
This leads to the great gateway, not unlike the gopura of a Dravidian
temple, five storeys in height, but extended by lateral galleries and
towers to a facade more than GOO ft. in extent. Within this a second
raised causeway, 370 yards long, leads to a cruciform platform in
front of the temple (shown in figure 1, AVoodcut No. 370). On either
side of this, about half-way down, is a detached temple, which any-
where else would be considered of importance, but here may be passed
over.
The general plan of the temple will be understood from the
woodcut (No. 370). It consists of three enclosures, one within the
other, each raised from 15 ft. to 20 ft. above the level of that outside
it, so as to give the whole a pyramidal form. The outer enclosure
measures 570 ft. by 650 ft., and covers, therefore, about 370,000 sq. ft.
The great temple at Karnac (Thebes) covers 430,000 sq. ft. There
are three portals, adorned with towers on each face, and on either
side of these are open galleries or verandahs, which, with their bas-
reliefs, are probably the most remarkable features of this temple.
Their external appearance will be understood from the Woodcut
No. 373; that of the interior from Woodcut No. 374; though
these illustrations are on too small a scale to do justice to their
magnificence.
Its appearance in elevation may be gathered from Woodcut No.
371, which shows it to be a pyramid more than GOO ft. in breadth
across its shortest width north and south, and rising to 180 ft. at the
summit of the central tower. It is, consequently, both larger and
higher than Boro Buddor, and notwithstanding the extraordinary ela-
boration of that temple it is probably surpassed by this one, both in the
extent of its ornamentation as well as in the delicacy of its carvings.
There may have been as much, or nearly as much, labour bestowed on
the colonnades at Bamisseram as on this temple ; but otherwise the
Indian example cannot compare with either of these two. It has
literally no outline, and practically no design; while both Nakhon
Wat and Boro Buddor are as remarkable for their architectural
designs as for their sculptural decorations.
The mechanical arrangements of the galleries or colonnades above
referred to are as perfect as their artistic design. These will be under-
stood from the diagram, Woodcut No. 372. On one side is a solid wall
of the most exquisite masonry, supporting the inner terrace of the
temple. It is built of large stones without cement, and so beautifully
fitted that it is difficult to detect the joints between two stones. At
a distance of 10 ft. G in. in front of this stands a range of square
piers, very much in the proportion of the Roman doric order, with