2-981-950 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Buddhist Rock-Cut Temple, Ajunta, India, 1876. 'The excavations here are in a rocky cliff...The Buddhist caves are...distinguished by the word Chaitya; these were the chapels, or churches, in which the monks went through the service devoted to Buddha...One striking feature of these Chaitya caves is the ribbed roof, cut out in most exact imitation of a wooden construction. This is very clear evidence of the style of architecture followed in such buildings, and of the material in use at that period...The horseshoe form of the gable will be noticed: it is open, and the ribs of the roof can be seen within. This, with the exception of the door, is the only opening for light. The perpendicular face of the rock in front has been elaborately enriched...The scarp on each side of the front is covered with figures of Buddha, in conventional attitudes, each representing some act or condition of the great teacher'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.