DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0364
314
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book III.
light on the history of the invention, though this is not, of
course, capable of direct proof.
The simplest mode of roofing a small square space supported
by four pillars is merely to run an architrave or stone beam from
each pillar, and cover the intermediate opening by a plain stone
slab. Unless, however, slabs of great dimensions are available,
this mode of construction has a limit very soon arrived at. The
next step therefore is to reduce the extent of the central space
to be covered by cutting off its corners; this is done by
triangular stones placed in each angle of the
square, as in Woodcut No. 172, thus employ-
ing five stones instead of one. By this means,
the size of the central stone remaining the
same, the side of the square space so roofed
is increased in the ratio of ten to seven, the
actual area being doubled. The next step
in the process (Woodcut No. 173) is by em-
ploying three tiers and nine stones, instead
of two tiers and five stones, which quadruples
the area roofed. Thus, if the central stone
is 4 ft., by the second process the space roofed
will be about 5 ft. 8 in.; by the third 8 ft. square ; by a fourth
process (Woodcut No. 174)—with four tiers and thirteen stones
172.
Diagram of Roofing.
—the extent roofed may be 9 ft. or 10 ft., always assuming the
central stone to remain 4 ft. square. All these forms are still
currently used in India, but with four pillars the process is
seldom carried further than this; with another tier, however,
and eight pillars (as shown in Woodcut No. 175), it may be
carried a step further—exactly the extent to which it is carried
in the tomb at Mylassa above referred to. In this, however, as
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book III.
light on the history of the invention, though this is not, of
course, capable of direct proof.
The simplest mode of roofing a small square space supported
by four pillars is merely to run an architrave or stone beam from
each pillar, and cover the intermediate opening by a plain stone
slab. Unless, however, slabs of great dimensions are available,
this mode of construction has a limit very soon arrived at. The
next step therefore is to reduce the extent of the central space
to be covered by cutting off its corners; this is done by
triangular stones placed in each angle of the
square, as in Woodcut No. 172, thus employ-
ing five stones instead of one. By this means,
the size of the central stone remaining the
same, the side of the square space so roofed
is increased in the ratio of ten to seven, the
actual area being doubled. The next step
in the process (Woodcut No. 173) is by em-
ploying three tiers and nine stones, instead
of two tiers and five stones, which quadruples
the area roofed. Thus, if the central stone
is 4 ft., by the second process the space roofed
will be about 5 ft. 8 in.; by the third 8 ft. square ; by a fourth
process (Woodcut No. 174)—with four tiers and thirteen stones
172.
Diagram of Roofing.
—the extent roofed may be 9 ft. or 10 ft., always assuming the
central stone to remain 4 ft. square. All these forms are still
currently used in India, but with four pillars the process is
seldom carried further than this; with another tier, however,
and eight pillars (as shown in Woodcut No. 175), it may be
carried a step further—exactly the extent to which it is carried
in the tomb at Mylassa above referred to. In this, however, as