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JULY, 1918 ]
THE HINDOLA MAHAL AT MANDU
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development. They were responsible for two innovations, (a) they were the first to use barrel-vaults to connect the transverse arches, thus making it possible to place them farther a part, (b) they pierced windows in each of the curtain walls between these arches and thus obtained excellent lateral lighting, so that when Dieulafoy saw the ruins of the earliest building of this type, he was irresistibly reminded of a Gothic cathedral.
This building, known as Tak Eivan or Kut Gâpân, stands at Karkh. This town, which is known in Syriac as Karkhâ de Ladân, was founded by Shapur II. who died A. D. 379. Although seen by Rawlinson in 1838, 19 it was first surveyed and described by Dieulafoy some thirty years ago.20 It is raised on a sub-basement connected with an immense rectangular enclosure, to which it probably formed a monumental gateway. In its present state it consists of a gallery about 60 feet long by 27 feet broad (Plate I,C), which originally formed one of the arms of a long hall, the centre of which was occupied by a dome. Each arm was spanned by transverse arches (aros-doubleaux) brought up level and joined by barrel-vaults (formerets). Plate II, A. shows Phené Spiers' restoration and Figs. 3 and 4 explain
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(Fig. 3 & 4.) the vaulting system in detail. The curvature of the transverse arches was found to correspond to a radius equal to half the width of the hall, hence semi-circular arches are shown in the restoration. If we bear in mind the restrictions imposed by longitudinal lighting, the very great step forward here taken will be realised.
We now come to a building which every writer, with the exception of Professor Max van Berchem, 31 has regarded as Muhammadan. This is ķuşair Kharaneh, which stands in the country lying east of the Jordan, the Moab of the Old Testament, or the steppe of
19 Journal of the Royal Grographical Society, Vol. IX, p. 71. 20 L'Art Antique de la Perse, tomo V, pp. 79-87. 21 See Journal des Savanta, 1909, pp. 406-408.
