in tw lass on to consider the elevation of such buildings more in detail. The contour of the elevation w as pyramidal throughout ; not only did the obelisks and propyhea present this appearance, lint even the walls, out at the base. and converging towards the apex, and as these formed the external there or the building, they gave the whole a pyramidal appearance, which doubtless adds considerably to the expression of strength. w hich is at marked charaeteristie of the style. The col mutts are the only parts of the building in which this form is 110t oli•erVatile, their profile hieing for the mitst part vertical. This is just the reverse of llrecian architecture ; for there the walls are vertical, and the columns sloping or conical, the general effect, however. is the same— pyramidal ; for whereas iu the Grecian buildings, the sloping columns are placed mi the exterior, in those of Eg? la the walls are external, surrounding, the upright columns, so that the profile of the building. taken as a w hole, is the same, although the arrangement is reversed.
Au Egyptian we may so apply the tcrin—con sists, like the Greek. of column and entablature. which parts vie proceed to consider separately. Existing remains otter us examples of columns in great variety, differing in shape, proportions, and decoration, a 6w- specimens unit of o hick WC can pretend to make. The observable in them is so great, that it would he futile to attempt at detailed classiticatitin ; for examples which present sintiharities of11,run or decoration, diffir in proportions, while those agreeing in the latter vary- in many other particulars. As in other styles, the column consists of three members, Itase, shaft, and capital : the first, however, can scarcely be termed a distinct member, being in some eases scarcely recognizable, and in none Ittrining a very prominent feature. It is usually a plain circular slab of stone or plinth, sometimes projecting front and at others flush with the face of the shaft. or of the saute projection as the Widest or bulging portion of the shaft, and projecting. thrwards somewhat at their junction, where the shaft curves inwards.
The shafts present many variations, both in contour and decoration ; their most usual form is that of a cylinder, or store nearly approaching the cylindrical than any other figure, there being frequently a slight difference between the upper and lower• d I:11110.01'S. Sometimes the shaft contracted suddenly immediately above the base, the contour of this portion being curvilinear, and forming a tangent with the upper surtitee of the base, resembling in shape the calyx of a flower, the similarity to w hich is made the inure remarkable by the leaves carved upon its surface. This last form can
scarcely be recommended for its beauty ; kn• in spite of the assertions of its admirers, it certainly does present an appear ance of weakness. It is said that iu such cases the judgment to the assistance of the senses, and corrects the eye, and that what is well know n to be strong, cannot fairly be said to appear weak, and this is doubtless true to a certain extent ; nevertheless, speaking abstractedly and artistically, this form is decidedly objectionable. In some instances, the columns slope downwards in a slight degree, similar to those of Greece. The cylindrical shafts are usually reeded, giving the surface the appearance of a number of staves or reeds placed round a eonumni centre. or of a bundle of reeds, whence this kind of column has obtained the name of the bundle pillar. This resemblance is borne out by the fitet, that such shafts are usually cin•tured at intervals by bands con sisting of three or more rings, which gives one the idea of a bundle of reeds btatild rotund with reeds or rushes to preserve them in their position. Th se bands are sometimes of greater width, and have a plain stuttilee, or one of the inter vals between two bands is left blank, which again is often filled up with hieroglyphics or other ornaments. Specimens of reeded shafts of the different descriptions mentioned, are to be found at Beni-has-an, I lermontis, and Latop4dis, and indeed in almost every locality ; they are more prevalent than any other form. At other times, the reeds entirely disappear. the plain shaft being divided vertically into a number of compartments as before, by means of annulets or bands of reeds, and these compartments tilled in with hiero glyphics ; many elaborate examples of this kind are to be seen at Deficient.
Although eylindrical shafts are by far the most general, yet we 4 WeaSiollal y meet with examples of a polygonal and sometimes w ith plain rectangular piers; a remarkable instance of the thriller exists at a temple at Eilethyas, on the right bank of the Nile, a few miles south of Esneh, where, in the interior of a large vestibule, the whole of the roof, as Mr. Barry informs us, is supported on polygonal columns of sixteen sides. Examples of the rectangular piers are described by the same writer as existing at Beni-hassan.