The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c7.10

c7.10

According to the invariable custom in India this sanctuary is surrounded by a stone railing, which protected it from profanation, and which, in spite of its massive weight, is evidently an imitation of a wooden fence. In form slightly oblong, it measures across from east to west 43m,60, and from north to south 1m,10 more, in order to leave room for the flight of steps. In the uprights, 3m,10 high, were fixed with mortises and tenons three cross-bars and one coping, the latter 0m,68 high. At the four cardinal points an opening was arranged in such a way that the breach was not apparent to the eye, masked as it was in each case by a double elbow in the enclosure. When it was thought to add fronting doors to these slanting entrances, it was necessary to attach the right jamb of each of these latter to the railing by a joint at right angles : in this way were formed four rectangular vestibules, shut in at the sides, and with the front and back faces corresponding alternately as regards rail and opening.