The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c8.32

v1.c8.32

**Tower :** Ignorant of the principles of the true arch, the architects of Orissa found the greatest difficulty in covering large areas with a substantial roofing. The Jain plan of triangular blocks cutting off the corners of the original square, and by two or three repetitions reducing considerably its size, so as ultimately to be fit to be covered by a single block of a moderate size, (woodcut No. 17), was not sufficient for them, and single slabs could seldom be found of sufficient length and breadth, and so free from defect, as to suffice for temples of the size of the Great Tower of Bhuvaneśvara. Their only resource was, therefore, the horizontal arch of parallel projecting courses of stone in flat layers, **[31]** or corbelling which they could carry out to any extent they chose (woodcut No. 18). As they always built with stone, and that material was nowhere scarce, the great thickness required in the supporting walls to resist the weight and thrusts of a large mass of superstructure was, to them, a matter of no consideration, and the great height to which they had to carry their towers to close large areas by very gradual projections, served only to heighten the grandeur and majesty of their sacred piles. The edges of the projecting stones, both within and without, were so cut off, as to produce an even outline ; but sometimes the inner edges were decorated with mouldings, or left untouched, giving to the ceiling the appearance of a flight of steps reversed. The plan of building adopted, was the simplest, and at the same time the most effectual.