Key Concepts in Hindu, Khmer, Islamic, and Mesoamerican Art

Khajuraho

A group of Hindu and Jain temples in India (c. 950-1050 CE), famous for intricate sandstone carvings, especially erotic sculpture reflecting sacred union.

Darshan

A spiritual concept in Hindu worship meaning 'seeing' and being seen by a deity; central to temple design and viewer interaction with divine images.

Garbhagriha

The innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where the deity's image is housed; not usually accessible to the public.

Shikhara

The rising tower above the garbhagriha in North Indian temples, symbolizing a mountain and spiritual ascent.

Vishnu

A major Hindu god known as the preserver; frequently depicted in temple art, often with his avatars like Krishna or Rama.

Shiva

A major Hindu god known as the destroyer and transformer; depicted in dancing (Nataraja) form or with attributes like the trident.

Apasmara

The demon of ignorance trampled underfoot by Shiva in Nataraja sculptures.

Sembiyan Mahadevi

A queen and major patron of early Chola temple architecture and bronze sculpture in South India.

Angkor Wat

A vast temple complex in Cambodia built by King Suryavarman II; originally Hindu (dedicated to Vishnu), later Buddhist; symbolic of Mt. Meru.

Angkor Thom

The later capital of the Khmer empire; includes Bayon temple with iconic smiling stone faces.

Khmer Culture

Civilization in Cambodia (9th-15th centuries) known for monumental architecture, intricate bas-reliefs, and integration of Hindu/Buddhist beliefs.

Churning of the Ocean of Milk

A Hindu myth depicted in Angkor Wat reliefs; gods and demons churn the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality.

Suryavarman II

King and patron of Angkor Wat; depicted in temple bas-reliefs as a ruler and military leader.

Jayavarman

Name shared by several Khmer kings, most notably Jayavarman VII, a devout Buddhist responsible for building Angkor Thom and Bayon.

Mt. Meru

A sacred mountain in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology; central in temple symbolism (e.g., shikhara of Angkor Wat).

Mudra

Symbolic hand gestures in Hindu and Buddhist art representing various spiritual concepts.

Il-Khanid Dynasty

A Mongol dynasty in Persia known for blending Chinese, Persian, and Islamic art styles, including illustrated manuscripts.

Shahnameh

The Persian 'Book of Kings,' an epic poem illustrated in royal manuscripts, often richly decorated.

Safavid

A Persian dynasty (1501-1736) known for refined architecture (e.g., mosques in Isfahan) and detailed textiles.

Isfahan

Capital of the Safavid empire; famous for its grand mosque complex and blue tilework.

Ardabil

Site of the Ardabil Shrine; home to the Ardabil Carpet, a masterpiece of Safavid textile art.

Mosque Lamp

A decorative glass lamp used in mosques, often inscribed with Quranic verses and donor names.

Iwan

A vaulted hall or space walled on three sides, open on one; key feature in Persian Islamic architecture.

Four Iwan Mosque

A mosque design with four large iwans surrounding a central courtyard; seen in Persian architecture.

Ottoman Empire

Islamic empire centered in modern-day Turkey (1299-1922); known for monumental mosque architecture.

Sinan

Chief Ottoman architect; designed the Süleymaniye Mosque and Mosque of Selim II, known for massive domes.

Selim II

Ottoman sultan and patron of the Mosque of Selim II in Edirne, designed by Sinan.

Edirne

City in Turkey where Sinan's Selimiye Mosque is located.

Mughal

Muslim dynasty ruling India (16th-18th centuries), blending Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles in architecture and miniature painting.

Jahangir

Mughal emperor known for promoting art; depicted in court paintings emphasizing power and divine favor.

Shah Jahan

Mughal ruler who commissioned the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife; patron of grand architecture.

Bichitr

A Mughal court painter known for works like Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings, rich in symbolism.

Sufi

Islamic mystic; often depicted in art as spiritual and wise, emphasizing a personal connection to God.

Charbagh Garden

A quadrilateral garden layout symbolizing paradise; used in Mughal tomb and palace design.

Jali Stonework

Intricate, perforated stone screens used in Mughal architecture for decoration and filtered light.

Cenotaph

An empty tomb or symbolic grave, often placed in monumental structures like the Taj Mahal.

Agra

City in India home to the Taj Mahal and other Mughal architectural wonders.

Maqsud Kashani

Designer of the Ardabil Carpet, known for his intricate calligraphy and weaving skill.

Chavín Culture

Early Andean civilization (c. 900-200 BCE) known for religious iconography and the Lanzón Stela.

Contour Rivalry

Artistic technique in Andean art where a single image can be interpreted multiple ways depending on the viewer's angle.

Lanzón Stela

Central religious image of Chavín de Huantar; a stone carving combining human, feline, and supernatural features.

Inka

Andean empire (15th-16th centuries) known for engineering, textiles, and stone masonry.

Cusco

Capital of the Inka Empire; features Inka masonry like Qorikancha and Spanish colonial overlays.

Qorikancha

Inka temple to the sun god; later transformed into a Christian church by the Spanish.

Repousse

Metalworking technique of hammering from the reverse side; used in Inka and other cultures.

Machu Picchu

Inka royal estate with sophisticated stone construction and astronomical alignments.

Intihuatana Stone

Ritual stone at Machu Picchu believed to function as a solar clock or religious marker.

All-T'oqapu Tunic

Inka garment woven from fine thread and symbolic motifs; worn by elite for power and identity.

Pachacuti (10th Inka king)

Inka ruler who expanded the empire and is associated with major building projects like Machu Picchu.

Olmec

One of the earliest Mesoamerican cultures (c. 1200-400 BCE); known for colossal stone heads and ritual iconography.

Shield Jaguar

Maya king known from the Yaxchilán lintels; shown in ritual scenes with his wife, Lady Xoc.

Lady Xoc

Maya queen known for performing bloodletting rituals; prominently featured in Yaxchilán reliefs.

Mayan Glyph

Writing system using logograms and syllables; carved in stone monuments to record history and rituals.

Aztec/Mexica

Civilization in central Mexico before Spanish conquest; known for monumental architecture and religious sacrifice.

Tenochtitlan

Capital of the Aztec empire; located on Lake Texcoco, now Mexico City.

Huitzilopochtli

Aztec god of sun and war; central figure in Mexica religion and Templo Mayor worship.

Templo Mayor

Main Aztec temple in Tenochtitlan; dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc with dual shrines.

Coyolxāuhqui

Moon goddess dismembered by Huitzilopochtli; depicted in a massive stone disk at the base of Templo Mayor.

Tlaloc

Aztec rain god; associated with fertility and one of the deities worshiped at Templo Mayor.

Nahuatl

The language of the Aztecs; used in codices and oral tradition.

Quetzal Feather

Long green feathers from the quetzal bird, used in elite Aztec garments and headdresses.

Codex Mendoza

An illustrated Aztec manuscript made for Spanish rulers; documents Aztec life, tribute, and conquests.

Moctezuma II

Aztec ruler at the time of Spanish arrival; associated with grandeur and the empire's fall.

Spanish Viceroy

Colonial governor representing Spanish rule; recipients of codices like Codex Mendoza.

Encochado

A technique using mother-of-pearl inlay; seen in colonial Mexican art blending Indigenous and European styles.

Yaxchilán

Maya site famous for its carved lintels depicting royal rituals and bloodletting.