Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Cultural significance of the taj mahal
Cultural significance of the taj mahal
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
One of the world’s greatest love stories produced a timeless monument. The structure’s sheer beauty inspired poetic words from the builder himself. The monument is an engineering marvel that has been studied by scholars and historians alike. Visitors throughout history have been infatuated by the shrine’s elegance. Count Hermann Keyserling describes the monument as, "A massive marble structure, without weight, as if formed of ether, perfectly rational and at the same time entirely decorative (Taj Mahal, 2008).Keyserling went on to say, “It is perhaps the greatest art work which the forming spirit of mankind has ever brought forth (Taj Mahal, 2008)." An American novelist, Bayard Taylor referred to this structure as a castle in the air (Taj Mahal, 2008). Constructed as a tomb for the emperor’s deceased wife, the Taj Mahal stands as one of the greatest manmade creations in the history of the world.
The travel website, Taj Mahal, illustrates the origins of this monument. It was constructed to serve as a memorial and tomb for Mumtaz Mahal, the deceased wife of the emperor Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, 2008). Before her death, while birthing Shah Jahan’s fourteenth child, she requested Jahan build a monument to honor her as stated by the Taj Mahal website (Taj Mahal, 2008). In 1631, construction began, and was finally completed twenty-two years later (Taj Mahal, 2008). Twenty-two thousand workers labored in constructing the monument bringing materials by elephant from many parts of Asia (Taj Mahal, 2008). The web site Islamic Architecture lists the Iranian architect Ustad Ahmed Lahwari as the key designer of the structure; however other architects played prominent roles in the monument’s design (Organization, 1995-2003).Over time, the esti...
... middle of paper ...
...ks Cited
(2007). Retrieved Feb 11, 2012, from The Taj Mahal the tear on the cheek of history: http://www.thetajmahalindia.com/tajmahalinformation.html
(2008). Retrieved 11 2012, Feb, from Taj Mahal: http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/
Archaeological Survey of India. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb 11, 2012, from http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp
Inc, E. T. (2003). A monument of Imeasurable beauty & love. Retrieved Feb 11, 2012, from Taj Mahal: http://www.tajmahal.travel/
Invis Multimedia. (2010). Taj MahalAgraIindia. Retrieved Feb 11, 2012, from India video.org: http://www.indiavideo.org/text/taj-mahal-agra-1312.php
Kleiner, F. S. (2010 pgs 38). Gardner's art Through the Ages. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
Organization, I. A. (1995-2003). Retrieved Feb 11, 2012, from Islamic Architecture: http://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/taj_mahal.html
In The Book of Ser Marco Polo, chapter X (Polo, 2) tells about Genghis Khan great Palace and how unique the building was structurally and by design. Polo stated how Genghis Khan palace was so vast, so rich, and so beautiful, that no man on earth could design anything superior to it. The walls were covered with gold and silver throughout the palace. Not only was his palace was so extraordinary and unique, ther...
The buildings that I chose to do were an advert for a powerful civilization. The emperors showed their power that they are the great leaders with a lot of money that could get many workers as they possibly could to erect their pattern of monument. The emperor Augustus used propaganda to ensure a vast base of support leading up to his renunciation in 27BC. The Roman emperors also built all these monuments in regard to public entertainment for their political advertising.
Bihzad has placed strong emphasis on the complexity of the palace’s architecture which he has adorned with colorful ornaments and emblazoned with gold. Each room is decorated with rugs and tiles featuring complex floral and asymmetrical patterns that cover each chamber from floor to ceiling. The palace appears to be three stories tall and features a balcony on the left and a zigzagging staircase on the right. The asymmetrical style of these two architectural features gives the impression of the work being 3-dimensional ...
Constructed in the 7th Century, home to a government, a religious pilgrimage site, the residence of the Dalai Lama, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and located at twelve thousand feet above sea level, Potala Palace is an amazing architectural feat and the most important building in Tibet. The palace is admired as the symbol of Tibet as well as an illustration for the religious struggle for purification. Influences, both ancient and unexpected, relate this sacred symbol in stone to the rest of the world, both new and ancient, with a classic architectural language, which is paramount to any social or political society.
Has it ever crossed your mind that the oldest and only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World was built in times that predated any modern technology? Doesn't it seem almost impossible? There are three Pyramids of Giza, the first one was commissioned in Ancient Egypt by the Pharaoh Khufu, around the year 2540 BCE. They are located in Giza, Egypt, and take on this name. Standing 488 ft tall, they were once the tallest buildings in the world, for many hundreds of years. The site is one of the most famous worldwide, receiving millions of tourists each year. The Pyramid of Giza is extremely significant because of its enormous scale and the many people needed to construct it, along with the methods used to do so.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World demonstrate individuals’ incredible creativity and imagination. God, of course, is responsible for these creations as He is the one who blessed mankind with such imagination and creativity. Some of these amazing pieces of history include the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The complex architectural feats that each wonder displays are truly remarkable. However, six of these wonders have unfortunately been destroyed. The only structure that remains is the Great Pyramid of Giza. When observing this great ancient wonder, it is interesting to consider its general facts, theories of construction, and strategies of preservation.
India has produced provocative (From Western standards) sculptures, from Mithuna the Hindu, representation of male and female sculpture locked in a passionate embrace. During the time period of 500 through the 1300 CE, Hindu temple architecture, and sculpture reached new levels of imagination and complexity. A great example would be the Mithuna couple showed in a tight hug with the female leg crossed over the males arms wrapped around each other, and what appears to be the couple kissing, which on western standards, would exhibit a state of an erotic pose. India’s artistic ability’s showed an advanced style, when it produced the marvelous Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the dance, from southern India, Chola period, eleventh century, Bronze height 5ft surrounded by a ring of fire, Shiva dances the eternal rhythms of the universe, birth , death, and rebirth. This sculpture too, not one of eroticism, just magnificent with a women dancing inside a ring of fire, the overall size, just added to the statue, and present of this piece of art. Hindu devotional practices elevate, and promote a sculpture, to an individual’s state of looking or gazing at God’s image; Hinduism holds that God is present in its representations, thus visual contact with a sculpture is like viewing the divine. This is referred to as darshan (Literally, “seeing and being seen by the God”) the very act of beholding the image is an act of worship. Gothic design with its flare, when thinking about sculptures it leads you to the grotesque’s gargoyles waterspouts, these were grotesque figures or hybrid beasts that adorn the rooftops or flying buttresses of the Gothic cathedrals, and were said to ward off evil. The one’s adorning Notre Dame , in Paris are astonishing , Whe...
The ancient world was truly a wonderful and interesting thing. Mankind developed and evolved greatly during this time. Also during this time, many advancements in technology helped lead to great master architecture. The Great Pyramid, Temple of Artemis and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia are some of these famous works. These masters of architecture can often be referred to the seven wonders of the ancient world. Sadly, all but one of these ancient wonders have been lost to the times, the only wonder that still remains is the Great Pyramid of Giza. The topic of my essay is Ancient Egypt. During the course of this essay the basic details of who, what, when, where, how and why will be discussed.
Across cultures, continents, and worlds, the majority of things within the scope of our very own humanity can be boiled down to two things: those who are dominant, and those who get dominated. Within these statuses lie stories of power struggles, rebellion, the rising and falling of those with influence, and the interconnection between a being with power and the people under his ruling. Through the visual works catered to this subject, we will discuss themes such as the power of immortalization, divinity amongst humans, what it really means to be a ruler, and many other details making up the ever-present, multifaceted relationship between rulers and their subject. With the assistance of the Blanton Museum of Art, I will be able to showcase
When showing how much people care about something, nothing pales in comparison than a monument. Monuments are great buildings that commemorates an amazing moment or event, making it frozen in time forever. Whether it be a statue of an individual or a humongous obelisk right next to a gigantic reflection pool, monuments surround our nation. When creating one of these amazing structures, groups and individuals must consider the specific details of dimensions, materials, and reasoning. If they are able to fulfill all of the requirements for the monument, they will be able to pay proper tribute or recognition for the event.
Designed by the English architect John Nash between 1815 and 1821 as a seaside resort for the Prince Regent, it combines a fanciful assortment of Chinese, Indian, and Islamic motifs (267). John Nash was an English architect who had designed the Royal Pavilion. When I saw this picture, I reminded of Hindu temples because of Royal Pavilion domes like a Hindu temple dome and the others domes look like a mosque dome. The Royal Pavilion is a countless architecture that is why people are keen to see. On my response, The Royal Pavilion is embodie a piece of art which are still standing in the same way and his art is evident. I agree with the author regarding a fanciful assortment of Chinese, India, and Islamic
Choga Zambil and Djeser-Djeseru are not as well known today as buildings such as the Empire State Building or St. Peter’s Basilica, but when they were originally constructed each was respectively possibly the greatest monument of its time. While the structures may have had formal differences, both were meant to show the power and strength of their creators. They both do this through their size and the architectural choices made in their construction which reference the past while pointing towards the future and innovation.
For many years we have seen many different architectural structures come and go. From the pyramids to the Colosseum to the Eiffel Tower to The Twin Towers. Every architectural structure derived from another in some way shape or form. Whether it's from the use of columns or arches or blocks or bricks. The Great Pyramid of Giza is in fact one of the most influential architectural structures known to date. In this paper I will show how The Great Pyramid of Giza has influenced some of the most famous architectural structures known to date. Now let's get to know a little bit about the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Another purpose of the building is that it is the world’s tallest building and demonstrates a living wonder. The location of the building is a pride to the people of the Middle East because it is the tallest free-standing structure in the middles east. The stunning work of art is visible to the world and incomparable work of engineering that build the Burj Khalifa.
It includes the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal palaces and other buildings, is a palace in Jaipur, the capital of the Rajasthan state, India. The palace lies in the heart of jaipur city.It was the thrown of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the head of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. The Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum, but the greatest part of it is still a royal residence. The palace complex, it incorporates an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens and buildings. Mubarak Mahal, meaning the 'Auspicious Palace', was built with a fusion of the Islamic, Rajput and European architectural styles in the late 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II as reception centre. It is a museum; a fine repository of variety of textiles such