The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c11.8

c11.8

¹ We know that the discovery of this peculiarity is due to an engineer, Heer J. W. YZERMAN. The primitive plinth must have very early been buried in the new masonry along with the bas-reliefs wherewith there had been a commencement of decoration. Doubtless it was found necessary to strengthen the foundations, which threatened to give way under the thrust of the upper stories : at the same time perhaps orthodox tradition found the addition of a terrace advantageous, thus completing in the most patent manner the sacred number of nine. This addition is indicated on pl. XXXII, 1 by the divergent hatchings.