Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/541

CHAP. IV. PANATARAN. 443 10 o 10 20 10 40 so feet 488. Chandi Panataran, plan of terraces. from the Ramayana, but many also from local legends. Each of these is separated from that next it, by a panel, with a circular medallion, containing a conventional animal, or a foliaged ornament. The bas-reliefs of the second storey are better executed, and, from their extent, more interesting; their subjects, however, seem to be all taken from local legends not yet identified. The third is ornamented by panels, with winged figures, griffons, Garu- das, and flying monsters, more spirited and better executed than any similar figures are in any examples of Hindu art I am acquainted with. In the centre of the upper platform, but not shown on the plan, is a well hole which may have served in the temples at Prambanan for the deposit of relics or of the ashes of deceased priests. This has been dug out and increased in dimensions below by treasure seekers. Whether at any time over this upper platform there was a superstructure of any kind is not known ; Sir Stamford Raffles speaks of the remains of various foundations. On these wood columns might have rested carrying a roof, but in any case the opening was probably closed over, and formed a secret chamber, on which may have been erected an altar. The sculptured panels of the lower platform are largely illustrated in the Dutch survey, and are inferior to those of Boro-Budur ; the bas-reliefs of the second platform seem to be of finer execution, judging by Kinsbergen's photographs, but there are no illustrations given of them or of the winged figures and Garudas which decorate the podium of the upper platform, or of the remarkable cresting round, which seems to have served the purpose of a balustrade. There is a second temple at Panataran, which might from its decoration be called a serpent temple. The Batavian Society have devoted twenty-two photographs to the illustration of its sculptures, but have given no plan and no description. There is not even a general view from which its outline might be gathered, and no figure is introduced from which a scale might be guessed. Its date appears to be probably previous to A.D. 1416. The figures, however, from which this is inferred are