History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s3.2

v2.c33.s3.2

There are, besides, three or four early examples in which a different outline is given to the bell. The Baubaugyî pagoda in Prome consists of a solid mass in brickwork of a cylindrical form, about 80 ft. high, raised on a triple base and surmounted by a finial carrying the Htî¹ or umbrella, which is always in iron-gilt, a feature which crowns every pagoda, the total height being about 150 ft. It is ascribed to the 7th or 8th century, as also two other examples in Prome, the Payagyî and Payama pagodas. These, however, have convex outlines and resemble a bee-hive in shape. In all these cases the relative proportion between the height and the lower diameter is about 3 to 2, differing therefore greatly from the Indian tope. These are, however, exceptional examples, as from the 11th century, when the great development of Burmese architecture commenced, the Stûpa or tope always took the form of a bell, sometimes of great size with decorative bands round, and raised on a series of three to five stages or platforms decorated with boldly projecting mouldings with square panels between. These platforms are generally either square on plan² or have a series of projecting planes one in front of the other. In early examples