History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s17.22

v2.c33.s17.22

Being nearly a pyramid, situated on the summit of a hill, there were no constructive difficulties encountered in the erection of Boro-Budur, and it is consequently no wonder that it now remains so entire, in spite of its being, like all Javan buildings, erected wholly without mortar. It is curious to observe, however, how faithfully its architects adhered to the Indian superstition regarding arches. They did not even think it necessary to cut off the angles of the corbel-stones, so as to simulate an arch, though using the pointed-arched forms of the old chaitya caves of the west. The two systems are well exemplified in the following woodcut (No. 481), but it runs