History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s12.2

v2.c33.s12.2

In consequence of the terrible ruin which pervades the whole structure, owing to the forest of trees which has invaded it, there is no general view of it to be obtained, and its appearance can only be gathered by imagining the effect of Angkor Vât with fifty towers instead of nine, the whole more richly and elaborately ornamented than even that temple; to this must be added the increase of the pyramidal composition, owing to the closer grouping of all the towers and their decoration with the four great masks of Brahmâ on each face, masks which, in their fine modelling and expression, are only approached by the great Egyptian Sphinx. Woodcut No. 468, representing one of the inner towers about 50 ft. high, gives some idea of the still greater examples—that over the sanctuary being calculated as 130 ft. high. Half way up the tower were eight projecting frontispieces, each carved with the head of Brahmâ and giving greater importance to the sanctuary tower.