We have here referred to some few of the specimens of capitals which remain, and but a few, for there is a great variety, several of which may frequently be found in the same building : and even in the same hall, or other part of a building, may be seen capitals of different design though of the same general appearance, which circumstance is similar to that observable in Gothic buildings. The proportions vary in like manner ; they sewn to have had no settled rule as to design or proportion, which were purely matters of individual taste. The arrangement was generally pienostyle, especially in the covered hal Is. where they had to support large masses of stone, which were used for rooting.
The design for the entablature, on the contrary, seems to have been unalterable, for with die exception of some little diversity in the ornamentation, they are universally of the same turns and character. and this is the ease. however much buildings may differ as regards their colmnns. It comprises two parts only. the epistylium and the cornice, the former of which was flush with the walls underneath at each end of the colonnade, answering to the Greek antic, with which likewise they are enclosed within a bold torus-moulding, and present a similar appearance to architrave of a door being returned at the sides. The owns-moulding is a niarked feature in Egyptian buildings, running up every angle of the building, and then returning on both sides under neath the cornice. The architrave is frequently plain, some times covered with hieroglyphics. but most frequently has a winged globe over the entrance in the centre, which is sup posed to have been symbolical of the deity.
The cornice is a very prominent feature in this style, and is introduced as a crowning or finish in ever) situation, with or without the architrave: it is seen at the entrance of the temple, over the doorway and propyltea ; within, over the colonnade and portico ; and on the exterior, crowning the whole length of wall. It consists of hut little more than a deep cove, but produces a great and beneficial effect by the bold shadow mm hieli it casts. The surfitee is divided into panels by an ornament similar to the Doric triglyph, or it Laud of three or more reed: placed side by side, with gene rally a narrow interval between each two ; when, however, the band is composed of a greater number of reeds, they are placed close together. The metopes or panels are filled up with some kind of ornamentation. This fin-need the termina
tion of the building, for the roof being fiat, there was no such thing its the pediment, the finishing line was horizontal.
Let us return for it few moments to the column, the sim plest fl um of which appears in :um extunple at Beni-hassam, as figured by Mr. 13.1•ry, and in reference to w hich he says: The prototype would appear to have consisted of four is reeds of the Nile. placed upon an angular block, and tied together by cords near the top, forming thereby the capital. Small sticks are introduced between the reeds at the place of ligature, to render the figure of a more circular form, and atiord the means of more firmly tying the whole toetether. The top is crowned by a square abacus, and the reeds liein;r thereby eon:inc.], the effect of any incumbent upon them would be to produce the form." A column similar to the above, lent in a more forward state of el :velopment. is to be seen at the British Museum ; it cons.sts of double the number of reeds, placed togei her in the same mauner, with similar base and abacus. But besides the differenee as to number. there is in this example another mariation in the method of joining shaft and base, the in this case being turned under so its to meet the base in a curve, a flum frequently adapted in more elaborate specimens.
The next change seems to have been the introduction of horizontal band:, which became requisite, as the reeds increased in number, to hold them firmly together; in sonic eases we find several hands, of one. two, or more reeds. The next step was to leave one or more of the spaces between the bands plain, and the next to cover it with hieroglyphics, till at last we find all the divisions of this description, at the Ten tyris. The progress of the capital would seem to have been of a like nature ; at first we find them composed of the same materials as the shall, with only a band to mark the sepa ration, and a flat square abacus at the top. The capital is, however, of a somewhat different contour, bulging out to wards the lower end or ligature. In the second example we have adduced, the same form is preserved, but the capital and abacus, as well as the shaft, are covered with hieroglyphics. The next alteration would be similar to took place in the ease of the shaft : the capitals were divided horizontally into bands, as at Latopolis, and these again ornamented with hieroglyphics as at blournou.