DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51509#0052
28 THE STORY OF ARCHITECTURE
the shape of a double bracket, formed by the
forepart of two bulls placed back to back.
Frequently between the bracket and the column,
as in the illustration, a bell-shaped capital was
introduced—very similar to one
of the Egyptian forms—and,
above this, a weak and clumsy
feature consisting of a bundle
of vertical scrolls. These scrolls
are not unlike the volutes of
the Greek Ionic Capital (p. 50),
but set vertically instead of
horizontally. The wooden
beams which supported the roof
appear to have rested in the
hollow space between the necks
of the bulls. These curious
capitals may be seen in the
rock-cut tomb of Darius, carved
of the mountain adjoining the
terraces, in which is represented, on a small
scale, a copy of one of these colossal halls.
But although the vast empire of Persia,
stretching from the Indus on the east to Thrace
and Egypt on the west, absorbed almost every
kingdom with which its hosts came into conflict,
its architecture had little influence upon suc-
ceeding styles, or upon that of Europe. Far
different might have been the result had the
invading hordes overflowed Europe, and not been
successfully resisted by those brave Greeks who
Breasted, beat Barbarians, stemmed Persia rolling on,
Did the deed, and saved the world, for the day was
Marathon!
Fig. 9.
Capital from
Persepolis.
out of the foot
the shape of a double bracket, formed by the
forepart of two bulls placed back to back.
Frequently between the bracket and the column,
as in the illustration, a bell-shaped capital was
introduced—very similar to one
of the Egyptian forms—and,
above this, a weak and clumsy
feature consisting of a bundle
of vertical scrolls. These scrolls
are not unlike the volutes of
the Greek Ionic Capital (p. 50),
but set vertically instead of
horizontally. The wooden
beams which supported the roof
appear to have rested in the
hollow space between the necks
of the bulls. These curious
capitals may be seen in the
rock-cut tomb of Darius, carved
of the mountain adjoining the
terraces, in which is represented, on a small
scale, a copy of one of these colossal halls.
But although the vast empire of Persia,
stretching from the Indus on the east to Thrace
and Egypt on the west, absorbed almost every
kingdom with which its hosts came into conflict,
its architecture had little influence upon suc-
ceeding styles, or upon that of Europe. Far
different might have been the result had the
invading hordes overflowed Europe, and not been
successfully resisted by those brave Greeks who
Breasted, beat Barbarians, stemmed Persia rolling on,
Did the deed, and saved the world, for the day was
Marathon!
Fig. 9.
Capital from
Persepolis.
out of the foot