Arch 214a- Midterm 2 Identification Cards

Ghats

Varanasi

c.1000 BCE (rebuilt 19th century)

Significance :

Ghats

Varanasi

c.1000 BCE (rebuilt 19th century)

Ghats- Stairs

• orientation and cosmology- movement around the North Star depicted in Swastika

• bathing has spiritual significance— holy water

Great Stupa

Sanchi India

250-BCE- 250 CE

Significance:

Great Stupa

Sanchi India

250-BCE- 250 CE

• a physical manifestation of church and state (Asoka’s reverence of the Buddha)

• RELICS housed inside

• built along trade routes with homes for monks— this allowed the spread of Buddhism and also let merchants become MENDICANTS (people who gave up their possessions to become like the Buddha)

• image of the stupa on the TORANA (ceremonial gateway)

• PRADAKSHINA-PATHA a pathway to circle the stupa, connects to the mandala and swastika

  COMPARE: Varanasi

Ajanta Cave Chaityas

Ajanta, India

150 BCE-650 CE
(chaitya 26 shown)

Significance:

Ajanta Cave Chaityas

Ajanta, India

150 BCE-650 CE
(chaitya 26 shown)

• a place of worship, shrine, prayer hall and a place of living for the Buddhist monks

• The Ajanta caves were to celebrate a royal marriage— a physical manifestation of a connection of kingdoms. the largest assemblage of rock-cut chaityas and viharas anywhere in south Asia

• imitating timber through stone, rock cut

• a place to stay and be educated, with liturgical Buddhist symbolism and artistic programs to reach nirvana

COMPARE- Petra

Shiva temple at Elephanta India, mid-6th century CE

Significance-

Shiva temple at Elephanta

India,

mid-6th century CE

• on a trade route, rock cut

• hypostyle hall

• Chaicha Circumnavigation (swastika, mandala)

• Lingam inside chambers (connects to god Shiva and fertility. Subliminal sexuality and sacred phallus)

• West facing- sunset

• Refined vs “unfinished“ areas

COMPARE- Petra, Ajanta caves

Descent of the Ganges

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

India 670

Significance-

Descent of the Ganges

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

India 670

• water imagery and ornamentation of the site

• elephant analogous with a living mountain

• Shiva’s mercy to bring water to the earth for purification and alleviating a drought

COMPARISON- the same river that the ghats connect to

“Shore” Temple at Mamallapuram

c.700-735

Significance-

“Shore” Temple at Mamallapuram

c.700-735

• direct inspo from rock formations on the shore, plus the worship of Shiva and other gods (Jainism)

• GRABHA GRIHA (womb chamber) and LINGAM

• Rock cut and free standing, with multiple shrines inside

• Vishnu and snake sleeping

• Both culmination of religious harmony of the gods and worked as a lighthouse to sailors- iconic landmark.

Foguang Temple

Shanxi Province, China

Northern Wei Dynasty, 857 CE

Significance-

Foguang Temple

Shanxi Province, China

Northern Wei Dynasty, 857 CE

• tognog style, 6 columns across with engaged columns

• bayed roof with bracket systems

• buddha hall and framed courtyard,

• key orientation of north and south entrances

Fogong Pagoda

Shanxi Province, China

1056 CE

Significance-

Fogong Pagoda

Shanxi Province, China

1056 CE

• buddha elevated on 4 moon terraces

• 3 levels each a separate structural entity

• tied by 54 different bracket types

• Buddha sits in the middle of the open space— again to the mandala and swastika

Ise Naiku (Inner Shrine)

Nara, Japan

690 CE/2013

Significance-

Ise Naiku (Inner Shrine)

Nara, Japan

690 CE/2013

• destroyed and rebuilt ritually every 20 years since the 7th century

• center of Shintoism

• “the soul of Japan“

Mausoleum of Diocletian

Split,

305 CE

Significance:

Mausoleum of Diocletian

Split,

305 CE

• half greek half Byzantine

• imperial city palace and sea fortress

• grid system (quadrants) reminiscent of Roman military camps

• originally temple of Jupiter and mausoleum signifying the divine ascent of Diocletian but after the persecution and relic of Saint Dominus it became one of the oldest Christian cathedrals— Cathedral of St Dominus

Basilica of St. John Lateran

Rome

313

Significance-

Basilica of St. John Lateran

Rome

313

• After Constantine recognized Christianity (edict of Milan 313)

• established a connection between martyrs + catacombs as meeting places and worship spaces by drawing from Roman architecture and history of Christianity

• So much gold and beauty inside that it was called the golden cathedral (later plundered, though)

Hagia Sophia

Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey)

532-537 CE

Significance-

Hagia Sophia

Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey)

532-537 CE

• originally built in 360 for the greek orthodox church by Constantinus (son of Constantine then in the city of Constantinople)

• burned down twice, demolished, and rebuilt in 532 - domed roof and two Narthex

• pieces from all around the kingdom

• Byzantine emperors crowned there until Ottomans took over and renamed it Istanbul and turned into a mosque, nave in the wall to Mecca