History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c26.s2.18

v2.c26.s2.18

The history of this mosque, as told in its construction, is as curious as anything about it. It seems that the Afghân conquerors had a tolerably distinct idea that pointed arches were the true form for architectural openings; but they left the Hindû architects and builders whom they employed to follow their own devices as to the mode of carrying out the form. The Hindûs up to this time had never built arches—nor, indeed, did they for centuries afterwards. Accordingly, they proceeded to make the pointed openings on the same principle upon which they built their domes. They carried them up in horizontal courses as far as they could, and then closed them by long slabs meeting at the top, the construction being, in fact, that of the arch of the aqueduct at Tusculum.¹ The same architects were employed by their masters to ornament the faces of these arches; and this they did by copying and repeating the ornaments on the pillars and friezes on the opposite sides of the