TOWER (AS. tur, from Lat. turris, Gk. -r6ppa, tyrris, T 6,9o1 , tyrsis, tower). Generally, except in fortresses (see FORTIFICATION), a building higher than its horizontal dimensions. The round towers of Ireland have been much dis cussed, and various fantastic explanations have been given for their appearance in the island in considerable numbers. The round tower accompanying a church in the mountain re gions of Spain, or in the flatlands of North ern Italy, is admitted to he a bell-tower of an ancient type; but those of Ireland have such small window-openings that it is evident that no pains were taken to let the sound of the bells reach the community outside. These towers are, moreover, very slender, high, and costly in com parison with the very humble churches which stand near them; and the soundest conclusion seems to be that they were intended partly as watch-towers, partly as places for the deposit of valuables in the case of sudden forays. These round towers of Ireland are wholly without architectural effect. On the other hand, the Tower of Sant' Apollinare in Classe, near Ravenna, is an interesting architectural design, although it has lost its belfry story; and that of Sant' Apollinare .Nnovo, within the city, is one of the most beautiful towers in Italy. Each of these bell-towers is of circular plan. Another form of round tower worthy of special note is the minaret of the Mohammedan cities. See MINARET.
In antiquity the tower was a rare thing, used only for defense, and occasionally for lighthouse purposes, though the form of those buildings is not accurately known. In the Far East the tower is associated with the double purpose of commemoration and religious sacrifice, in such builds as the Stnpa and Tope (q.v.) of Southern Asia, and the Paoh-Tah or octagonal tower of China. The lofty wooden structures connected with the Buddhist temples of Japan are, like the Indian and Chinese towers. emblem
atic and commemorative rather than useful in any way: they are the central and culminating feature of the temple-group and no more. (For the wide use of the tower in Mohammedan archi tecture, see MINARET.) In the Christian world, the tower appears in Italy at an early time, and in the North at leant as early as the eighth cen tury. Iii the North, at least, its obvious purpose of carrying large bells high above the roofs of neighboring buildings is complicated with a certain adaptation of the structure to purposes of defense against an enemy. In Italy the de tached and separate tower (see CAMP, NILE) held its own until the complete disappearance of mediaeval architecture in the fifteenth century; but in the North it is found incorporated with the main structure of the Church at a period at least as early as the eleventh century. The tower generally stands upon the ground, with its vertical lines easily seen from foundation to summit ; and this remains true throughout the Middle Ages except for the central towers of the cruciform churches. These last-named towers are built over the open interior, and are sup ported on four great arches or groups of arches, two of which span the nave, springing across the church from side to side, while two others con tinue the wall of the nave longitudinally. The complete Gothic cathedral has at least seven towers, two to the west front, four to the transept fronts, and one over the crossing. These towers all resemble one another in their appearance as seen from without. Throughout Italy the classic ally designed churches are apt to retain their mediaeval campanili. Consult Sutter, Turmbuch (Berlin, 1895).