History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c16.35

v1.c16.35

In the decorative sculptures of these monasteries, architectural elements are largely employed in the representation of buildings in which scenes are pourtrayed, and in pillars separating the panels. These present forms of Perso-Indian pillars employed side by side, sometimes on the same slab, with columns having classical capitals and bases. The capitals of the old Perso-Indian type have new forms given to them—the animal figures being changed, whilst the pillars themselves are placed on the backs of crouching figures with wings. It is the same absurd composition as is found in Assyrian and even Lombard architecture, where pillars were placed on animals and monsters ; and a similar practice was also long prevalent in Dravidian architecture.¹ Structurally the architecture of the age, we may suppose, would share in the mixed character of these sculptured representations. But the evidence may not be quite decisive ; a stûpa, such as the best preserved at ’Alî Masjid, for example, affords but little aid in recovering the style of temples or other structures. What we see represented in the sculptures, together with such structural fragments as remain to us must be our chief guides.