almost hidden by the curve of the capital, though occasionally, as at Denderah, it is higher, and bears on each face a figure of the god Bes (fig. 62). [Illustration: Fig. 62.--Column with square die, Contra Esneh.] [Illustration: Fig. 63.--Column with campaniform capital, Ramesseum.] The column with campaniform capital is mostly employed in the middle avenue of hypostyle halls, as at Karnak, the Ramesseum, and Luxor (fig. 63); but it was not restricted to this position, for we also find it in porticoes, as at Medinet Habû, Edfû, and Philae. The processional hall[13] of Thothmes III., at Karnak, contains one most curious variety (fig. 64); the flower is inverted like a bell, and the shaft is turned upside down, the smaller end being sunk in the plinth, while the larger is fitted to the wide part of the overturned bell. This ungraceful innovation achieved no success, and is found nowhere else. Other novelties were happier, especially those which enabled the artist to introduce decorative elements taken from the flora of the country. In the earlier examples at Soleb, Sesebeh, Bubastis, and Memphis, we find a crown of palm branches springing from the band, their heads being curved beneath the weight of the abacus (fig. 65). Later on, as we approach the Ptolemaic period, the date and the half-unfolded lotus were added to the palm-branches (fig. 66). [Illustration: Fig. 64.--Inverted campaniform capital, Karnak.] [Illustration: Fig. 65.--Palm capital, Bubastis.] [Illustration: Fig. 66.--Compound capital.] Under the Ptolemies and the Caesars the capital became a complete basket of flowers and leaves, ranged row above row, and painted in the brightest colours (fig. 67.) At Edfû, Ombos, and Philae one would fancy that the designer had vowed never to repeat the same pattern in the same portico. [Illustration: Fig. 67.--Ornate capitals, Ptolemaic.] [Illustration: Fig. 68.--Lotus-bud column, Beni Hasan.] [Illustration: Fig. 69.--Lotus-bud column, processional hall, Thothmes III., Karnak.] [Illustration: Fig. 70.--Column in the aisles of the hypostyle hall at Karnak.]