History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s3.43

v2.c33.s3.43

The other building known as the Mingûn-payâ was commenced by Bodauhpayâ, who spent twenty years over it, and died in 1819, leaving it incomplete. It would seem to have been an attempt to revive the old square forms of Pagân, in the same manner as the other was intended to recall memories of the older forms of early Indian Buddhism. "It stands on a basement of five successive terraces, of little height, the lower terrace forming a square of 450 ft. From the upper terrace starts the vast cubical pile of the pagoda, 230 ft. square in plan, and rising, in a solid mass, to the height of about 100 ft., with slightly sloping walls. Above this it contracts in successive terraces, three of which had been completed, raising the mass to a height of 165 ft., at the time the work was abandoned."\1 From a model standing near, it is inferred that, if completed, it would have risen to the height of 500 ft. ; it is even now a solid mass containing between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 cubic ft. of brickwork. Had it been carried out, it would have been the tallest building in the world. It was, however, shattered by an earthquake in 1838 ; but, even in its ruined state, is as large and imposing a mass of brickwork as is to be found anywhere.\2 Since the pyramids of Egypt, nothing so great has been attempted, and it belongs to the 19th century !