Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/465

CHAP. II. TEMPLE OF ANGKOR VAT area, uoo yds. square, in which the temple stands, was not also capable of being turned into a lake. 1 If it were, it is difficult to conceive a more fairy-like scene than this temple would have presented, rising from the lake which reflected its forms in the calm stillness of a tropical sunset. One of the most curious circumstances connected with the architecture of this temple is, that all the piers are as essentially of the Roman Doric order, as those of Kashmir are of the Grecian Doric. Even if this is disputed, one thing at least is certain, that no such piers occur anywhere in India. At Angkor Vat there is not a single bracket- capital nor an Indian base, 2 and although there are in- tersecting vaults and in- genious roofing contrivances of all sorts, there is no dome, and no hint that the architects were aware of the existence of such a form. On the contrary, take such a pier as that shown in Woodcut No. 465 : the pro- portion of diameter to height ; the proportion be- tween the upper and lower 1 Mr. Thomson was informed that during the rains the whole was flooded, in which case the temple could only be reached in boats. 2 Outside the temple the sides of the causeways are in places supported on dwarf columns of circular form. They seem to simulate a bundle of eight reeds, and have tall capitals. 466. Lower part of pier. (From a Photograph by Mr. J. Thomson.)