Page:A History of Art in Ancient Egypt Vol 2.djvu/141

The Egyptian Orders. 119 it seems to be a survival from the ancient wooden architecture in which metal was commonly used. The architrave which was employed with all these varieties of capital was sometimes of a kind which deserves to be noticed (Fig. 102). Whenever the dimensions of the column were suffi- ciently great the stone beams which met upon the die or abacus had oblique joints. The motive of the architect in making use of such a junction is obvious enough ; it was calculated to afford Fig. 93. — Capital at Sesebi. From the elevation of Lepsiu?, Denkmaler, part i., pi. 119. Fig. 94. — Capital from the temple of Nectanebo, at Philce. From the elevation of Prisse. greater solidity, and it was the most convenient way in which lateral architraves could be united with those disposed longitudinally. Any other arrangement would have involved a sacrifice of space and would have left a certain part of the abacus doing nothing. We have now brought our analysis of the principal types of pier and column used by the Egyptians to an end. They suggest, however, certain general reflections to which we must next