Sub-Saharan & South Asian Hindu

What faith is common in the African region?

Christianity

Stele

Standing stones with carved name or image; markers for royal activities

Obelisks

Pyramidal needle like forms

Hawelt / Stele of Aksum

Aksum/Axum, Ethiopia

Axum Kingdom

Context:

• Monolithic creations with inscriptions on all sides

• 80 ft in height; patron lives there forever?

• Stone petrification of palatial construction

Hawelt

Needle like form like the Egyptian but in the Sub-Saharan African region

Churches at Lalibela

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Zagwe Kingdom

King Lalibela

Context:

• 11 Churches in total; 3 different groups along the Jordan River

• Monolithic Cave Churches in cruciform or basilica shape from carving rock top to bottom

• Lalibela intended to form the churches into a pilgrimage route in replication to Jerusalem

Bet Giorgis

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Zagwe Kingdom

King Lalibela

Context:

• All the churches known as “Rock-Hewn Churches“

• Stone Mason carved stone from the Basilica or Cruciform outlines

• Drainage canals so water would not build up; all of the structure was carved for access and ventilation

• Interior: Plastered walls with fresco paintings; windows were at the top for better lighting

Great Zimbabwe Complex (Enclosure)

Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Bantu & Shona Cultures

Context:

• About 7-8 sites all together

• Great Enclosure → Valley Ruins → Hill Ruins

• Made of Dagan; walls make a total of 800 running ft

• Double circuit walls for fortification

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Zimbabwe

Houses made of stone or venrated houses

Daga

Mud and Thatch construction material (Material used for residential and other structures in the Great Enclosure)

Conical Towers

Made of solid stone and are 18 / 30 ft tall

(Examples of Battered Walls)

Great Mosque of Jenne

Jenne, Mali

Malian Kingdom / Sudano-Sahelian Islamic

King Koi Konboro

Context:

• Relation to the Mosque of the prophet of Muhammed (Hypostyle Hall; Interior)

• Qibla Wall (Tallest Minaret facing the Mecca); 2 smaller minarets on the sides of the building

• Scaffold from the internal framework for support to constructing or remodeling the structure

• Hall is set with large piers than columns creating support for the roof and opening, courtyard in the center and mats are covered between the interior piers for welcoming environment

• Roofs are not related to piers but have ceramic vents around with ceramic lids to cover ventilation

Benin City (Edo)

Nigeria

Edo and Bini Cultures

Context:

• British destroy the medieval city and loot is found in NW Europe

• Town is divided between galleries : Houses, structures, palace etc.

• Iyas - Walls for protection apart from the thatched rules which were residential walls

• Gable and steps; walls made of red clay houses divided into rooms; wells installed in each house for fresh water (first appearance of water drainage and piping systems)

Oba

King in the Edo culture of Benin

Hinduism

diverse, ancient religion from India

Brahman

Ultimate reality or supreme spirit in Hinduism

Darshan

the term refers to viewing the garbhagriha 'inner sanctum' of the temple

Mandapa

• More than one hall from extended porches; entry to temple

• Interior has Hypostyle structure

Garbhagriha

• “Womb Chamber“ Inner sanctuary of the Hindu Temple

• Devotees through a passage

Circumambulation

Formal act of walking around a object in prayer

Nagara (Northern Hindu Temple); Vishnu Temple

Khandariya Mahadeva Temple

Khajuraho, India

Chandela Dynasty, Northern Indian Hindu Architecture

Context:

• No walls between columns on the exterior

• Interior: Mandapa is carved and shiva lingam for Shiva

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Dravida (Southern) Hindu Temple

Shore Temple

Mamallapuram, South India

South Hindu Architecture

Context:

• Shrine for Diety in the inside

• Mandapa, one porch on a plinth

• Many monolithic statues

• Layers of or stone to create a four side pyramid; example of fragmentation

Vimana

Pyramid tower with niches for imagery , topped with octagonal capstone

Sanchi

Major site of Buddist, South Asia

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Great Stupa

Sanchi, India

Buddhist South Asia

Emperor Ashoka and main rails and torana

Stupa

dome-shaped Buddhist monument

Torana

an ancient, sacred gateway in Indian/Asian architecture symbolizing thresholds