The forms of columns found in India vary considerably. In the subterraneons temples, which are excavated out of the solid rock, they are generally of a massive character, and in proportions stunted ; they are rather grand than graceful. The bases are frequently cubical, and of great height in pro portion to the shaft, sometimes equal to it ; they are at other times octangular : the shafts are circular, or multangular, and sometimes consist of both forms one above the other, surmounted l>y compressed capitals. Columns of a balustral titian are to be seen at the Temple of Elephanta ; they are about 9 feet high, supported on cubical bases about 6 feet in height; the capitals. of a semicircular profile, exhibit the appearance of compressed cushions, and with the shafts, are ribbed or reeded : the whole is surmounted by an abacus of the form of an inverted truncated pyramid. Some very carious col tunn s are to be seen in a cave at Ellora, which consist of elephants bearing castles, and surmounted at the top by a capital or abacus.
In the pagodas, or constructed temples of the Indians, the columns are of an entirely different appearance, they are by no means so stunted, and are often of quite an opposite cha racter, slender ; such are those in that part of the pagoda of Chillambamm called the Nerta Chabcei; they are, in all cases, profusely enriched with sculpture. The capitals of the columns are frequently made more effective to the sup port of the entablature by extending them out in the shape of brackets, so as to leave but a small portion of the entabla ture unsupported. Sometimes a succession of brackets pro ject from the adjacent columns one above another, and meet in the centre, so as to leave no portion unsupported.
Of Persian columns we have but few examples remaining, but ftoin these we may conclude that they were of proportions, the height of some of the existing specimens being as much as 70 feet, while their diameter is but 5} feet. Some of the shafts are fluted with fillets intervening, and are raised upon a base 4 or 5 feet in height, finished with sculp tured mouldings. We have specimens of two kinds of capitals, the one consisting of small scrolls, somewhat similar to the volutes of the Ionic capital, placed in rows one above the other on the sides at the top of the shaft ; the others projecting from two opposite sides of the shaft, after the manner or brackets or corbels, and sculptured into the shape of the fore-part of an animal, which in some degree resembles a. horse. These columns must have possessed a considerable share of simplicity and elegance.
Of' the minions of the Grecian or Roman orders we need say notlfing in this place, not only because their forms are so well known, but also because they are so fully and minutely described in other parts of this book, and amply delineated in its illustrations. Some few remarks as to their form, &c. is appended to this article.
In those styles of ambit ect tire which immediately succeeded the Roman, and were indeed but debased copies of it, the column followed the general form and character of the original ; sonic were formed of portions of columns taken from Homan buildings. and piled together indiscriminately in the new structures, which destroyed their proportions, while it preserved their form and details. Out of this chaos arose
the styles afterwards prevalent in Italy and that portion of the continent, and we may add in Greece, for doubtless Byzantine architecture, although in a certain sense a distinct sty le, borrowed largely, both in its general features and its details, front the edifiers of the deserted capital ; indeed a debased itnitation of the Corinthian c(dunin was very lent in the buildings of Constantino' de. The copy was more saceessfid in some instances than others, the foliage being frequently of very interior design, and only carved out slightly in relief above the surthee. The inore characteristic capitals of the Byzantine style consisted of mere truncated pyramids invested and ornamented with a kind of basket work in low relief br Lombardie columns the base is frequently but a simple square block, rounded off at the top, though it sometimes consists of a carved lion or other monster supporting the shaft on its back ; such bases are frequent in porches and in smaller structures, as tombs, &e. The shafts, especially of the larger eolatuns, are circular, and of the same diameter from top to bottom; the proportion between the height and d ameter varies very considerably, according to the purpose of the column and its material ; when the weight to be sup ported is great, or the material used but little compacted, the shaft is low and massive; but when the weight is inconsider able, it becomes tall and slender, and is sometimes divided in its height by moulded bands. Columns are sometimes coupled together, standing either side by side, or one in front of the other, of both which arrangements we have examples in the cloisters of S. Lorenzo and Santa Sabina, at Rome, where either arrangement is copied in the alternate piers ; quadrupled columns are to be met with in the church of Boppat t. When columns tire attached to walls or piers, they not unfrequently have smaller shafts either before or beside them, somewhat similar to the clustered columns of later date; these smaller shafts, however, are never prolonged in the shape of ribs of a vault. The shafts of the smaller columns are nut unfre(piently polygonal, fluted, or reeded, and are sometimes formed of small shafts twisted together in a spiral line. The capitals are, for the most part, barbarous imitations of the classic orders, more usually Corinthian, and arc sometimes ornamented with spear-heads, and scroll or fretwork, while some again are formed of animals real and monstrous, and ornamented with grotesque designs of all descriptions, We have now arrived at the period of Gothic art, when the forms, proportions. and ornamentation of eolullIns became of infinite variety, subject to no law save that of beauty and utility ; so that to attempt to describe them in this place would be futile. We have them of all proportions save the stunted, and of all degrees of decoration, some with simple mouldings, others with foliated capitals ; some with single shafts, others clustered ; some circular, others polygonal. These, as is necessary, will be considered in detail, for whieh we refer to tho various subdivisions into which the Gothic style is usually distributed.