EXTERIOR OF VIHARA No. 17.—AJUNTA.
NUMBER 17, or, as it is generally called, the Zodiac Cave, very much resembles the last described in almost every respect. Its dimensions are 64 ft. by 63 ft. and it has twenty pillars disposed in the same manner as in the other. It is not, however, so lofty, and the details of the pillars are by no means so graceful or well designed as in No. 16. The paintings which adorn every part of the Vihara are much more entire than in any other cave of the series, and though the colours in some places are a good deal faded, they are preserved to such an extent at least that their subjects can generally be made out.
The pillars of the verandah, like most of those of the age, are plain octagons with bracket capitals, but their bases in this Cave are more elegant than usual.
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