ARCH2221 MIDTERM 2

Newark Earthworks

• religious

  • related to lunar cycles, more complex than solar cycles

• cultural

  • hopewell culture constructed large-scale geometric earthworks

  • gathering space for indigenous communities, including visitors who traveled long distances and brought materials such as copper, mica, shells and obsidian

  • place for communities to meet, celebrate, and share traditions

  • building the complex required the people to work together

• political

  • scale and careful planning show that people could organize into alrge groups and maintain conections across regions

  • earhtworks strengthened shared identity

• architectural

  • largest of hopewell earthworks, covering about 4 sq miles

  • formed by tall, continuous earthwall lined by deep ditch on each side of earthworld

  • octagon

    • combined earthwork enclosures positioned above the floodplain of raccoon creek

    • 20 acre circle and 50 acre octago, connected by small passageway

Cahokia

• religious

  • woodhenge

    • circles of large red cedar posts that tracked solstices, equinox, and lunar cycle

    • beliefs about life, death, fertility, and celestial movements

    • prominent female deity appears in red stone figures, human sacrifices to ensure harvests and cosmic order

    • elite mortuary practices in ridge top mounds, found high status male on falcon shaped bed

      • mass amount of graves found = human sacrifices

    • temples, channel houses, special structures = animistic worldview. believed spirits, ancestors, and non humans animated places and objects

• architecturalpl

  • monks mound was largest prehistoric earthworld

  • different mound types for different funcs

    • flat topped = temples, elite houses, public buildings

    • conical = burial

  • plazas oriented in cardinal directions

  • residential pole and thatch houses, specialized non-domestic buildings

  • plan creates sacred geography that residents moved thru daily

• cultural

  • multiethnic center, atteacted people from all over

  • plaza gor gatherings, games, crafts, and had organized neighbohoods with steam baths, council houses, shrines

  • material culture showed they believed in layered cosmos (upper world, underworld, middle world), and themes of fertility

• political

  • had class divisions

  • monumental construction = organized labor force

  • central precinct had places for government, public ritual, elite residence

pillars of ashoka

• religious

  • emerged as center for first indian empire, mauryan dynasty. written on these pillars were messages of buddhist compassion and the merits of king ashoka

  • ashoka was first leader to accept buddhism and was major patron of buddhist art

    • conversion bc saw carnage as result of conquest

    • adopts teachings of buddha known as 4 noble truths, referred to as the dharma

    • people who can fully understand 4 noble truths are able to achieve enlightenment, ends samsara the cycle of birth and rebirth

  • pillars are topped with animals and lotus flower

    • lotus flower represents buddhist rising from muddy water, unblemished. analogy for living thru everyday and then achieving enlightenment.

    • animal and flower forms the top most part of columns, buddha born into lion clan, the lion clan reps royalty

  • political

    • pillars have edicts (proclamations inscribed)

      • all serve to mark the kingdom

    • pillars written in aramaic and greek because ashoka wanted to reach the many cultures in his kingdom

• architectural

  • two types of stone, one for shaft one for capital

  • shaft cut from singular piece of stone

    • cut and dragged from the quaries

• cultural

  • built before development of pictures of buddha

sanchi

• religious

  • great teachers were buried in mounds

    • buried in seated, meditative positions and then covered in mounds of dirt

    • domed shape of stupa represents person seated in meditation, like buddha when he achieved enlightenment and knowledge of the 4 noble triths

      • base of stupa = crossed legs, sitting in lotus position

      • middle portion is buddhas body

      • @ top of mound where pole rises from apex, surrounded by small fence = head

    • before they made images of buddha, buddhists would demonstrate devotion to a stupa

    • ashes of buddha buried in stupas located in diff locations of events associated w his life

    • hemispherical shape represents dome of heaven enclosing earth

      • square railing at summit marks sacred enclosure, or world mountain aka axis mundi

  • circumambulation along raised terrace and ground level path is a ritual act of reverence performed clockwise

    • represens endless cycle of rebirth and the spokes of 8 fold path, aka 8 guidelines that guide practioner

    • while circling, forced to lower body to ground. movement increases body temp, mimics heat of fire used to cremate buddhas body, an act that severs bonds to self hood and attachment to world

  • buddha carvings not human form, indicated by symbols like bodhi tree, wheel, footprints, empty throne, parasol, or riderless horse

  • 4 sides represent 4 cardinal directions, practitioner can enter from any side

  • gates = torana, each gate also represents 4 great events of buddhas life (birth, enlightenment, first sermon, nirvana0

  • gates turned at right angle, shape of svastika, towards the axis mundi, directs to path of enlightenment

  • stupas have votives, improve karma by sponsoring votive

• political

  • comissioned by ashoka

  • links imperial ideaology w spread and institutionalization of buddhism

• cultural

  • narrative art a big thing

  • trade important to society, seen in the inscriptions that record contributions from merchants, guilds

Caitya Hall at karli

• religious

  • uses space for communal worship, chanting, and meditations

  • stupa is primary object of veneration, represents the buddha

  • central panel of cave has male and female couples

    • called mithuna couples. represents the notion of the individuals reintegration with the universal principle

  • entrance panels contain bodhisattvas, carved later and iconography was modernized

  • karli stupa is the focal point

    • central hall of caitya arranged to allow for circumambulation around the stupa

• cultural

  • inscriptions record donations from wide social range. from merchants to monks

  • sites position on important trade route linking arabian seat ports to the deacon and served as hub for culture, economy, and religion

• political

• architectural

  • recessed entrance of stone screens has holes in it, indicates there used to be wooden construction

  • entrance portico has horseshoe arched building moifs that sit on top of a plinth composed of life-sized elephants, supporting weight of structure

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Borobudur

• religious

  • ruler of saliendra dynasty built temple of borobudur as a monument to buddha

  • falls into reuse, rulers of java moved governing center to another part of the island

  • buddhism all about the impermanent and transient nature of existence

    • transcendental wisdom vis tha dharama recognizes that attachment to the idea of a fixed, unchanging self is delusional

      • sacred sculptures along stone walls and railings embrace the concept of “no-self” at the heart of eliminating suffering and dissatisfaction of sentient beings

  • circumambulating the structure symbolizes the non-physical and spiritual path of enlightenment, path represents impermanence

  • text on walls also refer to pathways

    • gandavyuha sutra forms major segment of the temples upper galleries

      • last chapter of text talks about flower garland sutra, story of suddhana, youth who goes on journey to meet 53 teachers while seeking path to enlightenment

  • path moves from earthly realm to heavenly (dark to light)

    • documented by narratives of the structures earthbound base, through the world of forms where narratives carved along galleries set at right angles, until one finally emerges into the realm of formlessness as symbolized and manifested in the open circular terraces cornwed w 72 stupas

  • buddhist stupas not just aesthetic

    • harness spiritual energies in the creation of sacred space

    • repetition of form and circumambulatory progress of the pilgrim mimic a cosmo

    • clockwise movement around the cosmic center reproduces the path of sun

    • emerging out of darkness into open air walkways reps how ones physical form merges w spiritual enlightenment as they go along this path

  • crowning stupa is dedicated to the great sun buddha vairocana

  • sits next to nearby volcano

    • path of rising sun seems to emerge out of mountain to strike temples peak and radiates light

• architectural

  • basic structure like pyramid

  • plan is 3d mandala

  • open air passageways radiate around central axis mundi

    • circumambulate along walkways then gradually to uppermost level

  • 504 statues of buddha

    • stone reliefs on walls with opposite balustrades decorate first 4 galleries and decorative reliefs that augment the path

    • relief sculptures narrate buddhas teaching and depict various events of his past lives, illustrate didactic stories taken from buddhist scriptures

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kailasanatha

• religious

  • caves affiliated w 3 big religions

    • hinduism, buddhism and jainism

    • caves associated w specific sacred mountains that are central to indian cosmologies

    • caves seen as suitable conditions for ascetic living and sacred environment

  • name of temple references sacred mountain and axis mundi in indian cosmologies

  • temple tower and exterior walls of main hall carved w vegetal and aquatic motifs, vessels of abundance, flying celestial figures, and entire pantheon of hindu deities

  • many carvings reference shiva’s abode on mt kailasa, connects monument to shiva residence

• cultural

  • built during time when religious communities sought to establish their presence and power thu patronage of structural and rock-cut architecture

• architectural

  • part of larger system of caves at ellora

  • 34 caves at ellora carved into exposure of basalt

  • monolithic temple

  • even though cut out of rock, replicates strcutural elements like gateway, separate pavilion, pillared main hall and subsidary shrines around temple

kandariya mehadeva

• religious

  • because of height, porch gives sense of elevation

  • believed that need to worship this one female deity to attain nirvana

    • tantric worship makes elaborate use of mantras to attain spiritual goals

    • women had to be present every ritual, males activated through union w a female

  • major shaivite shrine

    • dark, cave like sanctum houses a shiva, symbolizes formless divine

    • towering shikhara represents shiva’s abode and cosmic axis

    • 800 sculptures illustrating different deities

    • erotic symbols rep tantric symbols of union of individual soul w the divine and creative energy of the cosmos

• cultural

  • tribesmen brought thru bhakti cults, continued to practice animism and rites associated w female fertility

  • reflects worldview that connects worldly pleasures w spiritual goals

• political

  • built by vidyahara at the peak of chandela power, demonstrates royal piety, legitimacy, and prosperity

• architectural

  • sits on high platform, shares w another temple dedicated to parvati

  • no corner shrines, sillhouette has no distractions

  • khandariya rises higher than all other temples

  • designed to repicate jagged mountain range

  • interior sanctuary like dark cave

angkor wat

• religion

  • largest religious monument in the world

  • angkor wat means city temple

  • dedicated to hindu god vishnu, one of 3 principle hindu gods

  • hindu temples are not places of worship, but homes for the gods

  • carved bass reliefs represrnting different hindu stories

    • churning of the ocean of milk

      • victory of good over eval. gods fight demons to reclaim order. to reclaim peace, the elixir of life needs to be released from earth, but to release gods and demons must work together. as they work, they know they will have to batte to attain it.

  • centrally planned temple in harmony w the universe, temple according to rising sun and moon

  • central axis aligned w planets, connects structure to the cosmos so temple is a spiritual, political, and cosmological center of the universe

    • meant to represent microcosms of universe and organized as different mandalas

  • as they church milk, the foam produces celestial maidens who have been carved as reliefs

    • once elixir is released, indra is seen descneidng from heaven to catch it and save world from demons

• cultural

  • needed 300k workers and also means of feeding workers

• political

  • major patron was king survyaman, name means protector of the sun

  • not just temple, also served as kings mausoleum

  • means of legitimizing claim to political office

    • king must build grander temple than his predecessors

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• architectural

  • site built entirely from stone, every surface carved with narrative details

  • expansaive encolsure wall separates temple from protective moat

  • 5 towers mimic 5 mountain ranges of mt meru, mythical home of gods

  • temples dedicated to hindu gods as rep of mt meru

    • galleries and empty spaces between each other and moat symbolize mountain ranges and oceans that surround mt meru

    • also axis mundi

    • angkor wat central to universe

tomb of qin shi huangdi

• religious

  • surpasses all tombs in # of animals sacrificed

  • presence of grooms and terracotta attendants = recreation of stable

  • armor made out of stone instead of actual materials

    • chinese tombs made items “wrong these were mingqi (spirit articles)

      • only item made of stone was his armor, stone was said to have properties that ward off ghosts and evil spirits. stone armor of faithful terracotta warriors would face off against supernatural threats

    • half clothed figures were acrobats that entertained emperor

    • also had cauldron lifitng characters

      • cauldron lifting comp took place at autumn religious festivals. showed physical prowess and military might

  • large # of tombs in mausoleum. concubines and other close relatives. could have been forced to die w emperor.

  • also had prisoners that gone thru severe physical punishment

  • resting place for emperor’s soul, could have been replica of his life here to take to afterlife, could be place for him to recieve sacrifices

  • chariots carry him to afterlife or to retrace his imperial tours

• political

  • tomb of first emperor who unified china

nanchen monastery

• religious

  • central buddha on sumeru stone, flanked by 2 most imporant and revered boddhisatvas and attendant figures

  • statues serve as objects of worship and meditation

  • temple provides space for buddhist practice, ritual and devotions

• cultural

• political

  • because of remote mountain loc, temple escaped persecution of buddhism when all buddhist halls of the time were destroyed except this one

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• architectural

  • oldest surviving timber frame building in china

  • traditional courtyard facing south

  • main hall is square structure w hip and gable roof

  • vontains tang construction techniques and proportions

seokguram

• religious

  • name means stone buddha temple

  • monumental seated buddha, carved from white granite

    • shown in earth-touching mudra, gesture of enlightenment

    • surrounding main figure on walls are high relief sculptures of bodhisattvas, ten disciples, 4 heavenly kings, and other guardians

  • pilgrims would move from outer rectangular chamber (reps earhtly realm) thry corridor into circular inner space: spiritual journey of mundane to divine

    • artificial cave holds a lot of value because caves seen as place where truth can be uncovered

• cultural

  • grotto shows influence from indian cave temples, central asian models, and chinese traditions

• political

  • built by prime minister, built for his parents from a previous life

  • part of state supported buddhist program

  • monumental buddha serves as spiritual guardian and demonstration of royal piety

  • large scale grotto legitimizes silla rule, displays wealth, sophistication ofelite and reinforce buddhism as ideology of unified silla state

• architectural

  • 3 story pagoda

horyuji

• religious

  • oldest buddhist temple

  • shaka triad sculpture

    • located in the kondo

    • historical buddha w a boddhisattva on either side

      • face of buddha is prince shotuku

      • made when shotuku was dying

      • resembles chinese structures, strong influence

    • uses living tree to store spirits, grounding spiritual energy into physical world

• political

  • built adjacent to prince shotuku palace

    • credited as primary figure who promoted and established buddhism

• cultural

  • beginings of buddhism in japan and japan being established as sovereign state. buddhism was unifying force

• architectural

  • 5 story pagoda

  • a konda (main hall)

  • lecture hall

  • pagoda is chinese and japanese variant of stupa

  • wood very heavy, no posts on either side of eaves

  • main supporting building is singular hinoki tree, surrounded from planks of other hinoki and all rest on stone. stone cavity holds relics of building

  • pagoda draws eye upwards (axis mundi) connection between earthly and divine

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Ise jingu

• religious

  • embodies religions inteimate connection to nature, built entirely of natural materials w the walls, beams and roof

  • have to rebuld every 20 years. this act shows spiritual devotion and renewal

  • dedicated to amaterasu, sun goddess and mythical ancestor of japan’s imperial family

  • houses several sacred objects like mirror associated w sun goddess, symbol of wisdom and truth '

• architectural

  • shape of shrine on raised granaries for food storage

  • main shrine is symbolival, symbolizes stability and dignity

  • set at end of long path, behind gates, gives sense of entering a sacred space.

Phoenix Hall

• religious

  • buddhist temple

  • derives names from statues of phoenix, which were auspicious mythological birds in east asian culture

  • pureland buddhism spreading thru japan bc of monk honen, taught that enlightenment is achieved thru invoking name of amida, buddha of infinite light

  • practioners engaged in ritualistic invocation of amidas name, hoping to be reborn into his pureland, where journey to enlightenment is undisturbed

• political

  • sponsored by member of fujiwara family

    built at time when many imperial villas being converted into buddhist temples

  • demonstrates wealth, piety, and cultural authority of fujiwara clan

    • coverting private villa into temple embodies pureland vision and reinforces family’s prestige

• architectural

  • frames views of morning sun, emphasizes outerworldly beauty

  • perfect proportions were reflection of sophisticated court culture of elite fujiwara clan

Ste. Foy

• religious

  • important pilgrimage church on route to santiago de compostela

  • an abbey: church part of monastery where monks lived, prayed, and worked

  • pilgrimage church bc other churches along route took similar shape

  • outside tympanum: last judgement scene

    • christ in center as judge, right hand points to heaven, left hand points to hell

    • heaven is organized and joyful, hell is chaotic and cramped

    • many famous biblical characters, like mary and abraham, all depicted in heaven

    • in hell, there are people being shown punished, all 7 sins represented

    • serves as a warning for those who enter

  • reliquary of saint foy

    • young christian convert who was martyred

• cultural

  • use of spolia, associated w past riches of ancient rome

  • place of cultural exchange and learning since on the way

• architectural

  • romanesque church w barrel vaulted nave

  • cruciform plan, controls crowds of pilgrims

  • pilgrims enter and circumambulate to apse in back

    • apse has smaller radiating chapels

    • then circulate around ambulatory out the transept

• political

  • st foys influence gave the abbey more religious influence, helped establish more churches

st etienne

• religious

  • served as center of monastic life, prayer, and liturgical celebration

• political

  • royal remembrance of william, ongoing commemorative rites

  • gothic additions to choir enhanced function as place for more elaborate processions and veneration

• cultural

  • romanesque choir been replaced by gothic chevet

  • monastic buildings largely rebuilt by maurist congregation

  • french revolution -. church becomes parish and conventual buildings now house the town hall

• political

  • founded by william the conqueror as benedictine monastery dedicated to saint stephen to atone for marrying his counsin

  • william buried here

    • established caen as major cultural and religious center

    • permanantly links norman dynasty to this site

• architectural

  • early use of rib vaults

san miniato al monte

• religious

  • church of the benedictine monastery

  • located on crest of hill that hovers above city, where they believed cell of matyr saint minias once stood

  • bishop of florence orders construction of church for benedictine monks. monks also located close to city to serve citizens

  • mosaics of christ in mahesty and the inlaid pavement reinforce function as sacred space oriented towards contemplation and salvation

• cultural

  • regarded as purest form of florentine romanesque architecture, sets precedent

• politcal

  • bishop intiated construction with support from emperor

  • powerful merchant guildres assumed responsibilty for maintenance, hung up emblem as symbol of guild prstige and civic piety

• architectural

  • built to accomodate visitors to tomb of minias

  • central staiways let visitors visit crypt housing minias’ relicsm flanked stairways lead to elevated platform holding the altar and choir used by monks

  • roman spolia, capitals narrower than columns

st denis

• religious

  • abbot suger, father of gothic architecture

  • burial place of royal family, since suger their advisor

  • built over tomb of st denis, christian martyr

• cultural

  • gothic period moves away from the idea that visual decoration is distractoin, instead believes it transports users to the divine

• poltiical

  • time where kings power expanding, suger want to built architectural style to show growing power of monarch

  • closely tied to royal power

    • kings show royal piety, legtiimacy

    • by choosing denis as burial, succesive dynasty links their rules to the protection of st denis

• architectural

  • pointed arches allow for higher buildings, more windows, more light

    • light brings heavenly feel

  • ambulatory lets pilgrim stop at each chapel

Chartres Cathedral

• religious

  • tympanum shows asencsion of christ, middle shows second coming, right shows life of mary

    • angels reaching below barrior towards prophets, prophets can only see part of whats happening, we cant understand Gods plan

    • scenes of marys life

      • visitation, giving birth, bringing jesus to temple, mary on throne of wisdom

  • holds relic of marys mother

    • tunic of virgin mary, but then there was fire, tunic saved. took this as mary saying she wants better church to hold relic so they go and rebuilt

• cultural

  • part of complex of buildings with school, hospital, palace for bishop, and school of chartres

    • very important university during gothic times

    • believed pursuit of knowledge pathway to understanding divine

    • studied ancient classical texts

• architectural

  • west facade is early gothic, by the time exit is high gothic

    • stiff figures to dynamic

    • carved into columns

  • stained glass makes visitors feel like they are inside a jewel, very different from mundane clothes they wear and their homes w small windows

sainte chapelle

• religious

  • king saint louis gets cornw of thorns from his cousin

  • ornate boxes of gold to house thorns

  • entire chapel is reliquary for thorns

  • filled with music, voice of preist, smoke of incense, light streaming thru

  • stained glass narrates salvation story all the way to obtaining relics

• political

  • once palace for king of france

  • for the use of king and his household

  • upper chapel was private royal oratory where king can venerate relics in sacred setting

  • links royal authority directly to sacred, enhancing their prestige

• architectural

  • niches on each side for king and queen

  • lancet windows point eyes to heaven

  • windows tell old testament stories

  • exterior of building looks like crown

siena cathedral

• religious

  • dedicated to virgin mary

  • spiritual heart of siena

  • served as seat of bishop and city’s major liturgical celebrations, processions, and marian devotion

  • presence of important relics

  • sacred imagery thruout reinforces role as center of worship, teaching, and piety

• cultural

  • siena traces ancient origins to etruscans, also many roman ruins

  • customary to build on sites revered by romans, did this with the cathedral

  • piazzo del campo

    • sienas main public square

      • stage for famous palio horse race

      • central open space and shaped under government

  • torre del mangia

    • slender brick bell tower next to plaza

    • soaring tower and public square express power, identity, and republican ideals

• political

  • siena was wealthy and independent republic, cathedral showed civi piety

  • duomo nuovo church reflects city’s political and economic ambitions

  • palazzo pubblico

    • town hall

    • major frescos with allegories of good and bad gov

    • houses government and civic museum

  • great scale brings respect to siena, architectural features add to it

• architectural

  • green and white bands make it seem taller

  • columns in choir have greater spacing, make it seem more horizontal

sant andrea in mantua

religious:

• pilgrims flocked to basilica of sant andrea to see most famouse relic at mantua: drops of Christ’s blood collected at the crucifixion

• church built to accomodate huge crowds that arrived on holy days, who funded the construction

• believed it was built to change the context of ancient classical architecture to christian

• roman soldier longinus brings relic to mantua

  • drew pilgrims, made church an important center of christian devotion

  • alberti’s design gives relic a grand setting, spatious nave holds large congregations, chapels provide spaces for smaller acts of worship

• cultural

  • transformed city from medieval to Renaissance

• political

  • patron was gonzaga

    • marquis of mantua, employs alberti

    • portrait is featured in the frscos

    • sponsored as part of his plan to reshape mantua

    • supporting major church demonstrates family wealth, influence, and devotion

    • connects gonzago family to city’s religious life

• architectural

  • built of bricks and painted stucco

  • bricks baked in kilm, church less expensive to build

  • use of roman, classical forms

  • center arch extends deep into facade, reps the procession of the holy relic and christ’s triumphal walk over death,

    • goes back to when roman soldiers did victory walk under large arches

  • after pilgrim walk thru first arch, eyes drawn to taller barrel arch to the sky

florence

• religious

  • imagery built relationships between viewers and sacred figures

• political

  • church and state not separate

  • public funds used to erect religious centers

  • subsidies given to new churches to build for new audiences

  • wealthy individuals purchase rights to use and decorate chapels within a church, connects familial power to religion

  • palazzo vecchio

    • governing body of florentine republic

    • exterior is gothic structure w stone and massive projecting towers

    • built for republic great council then transformed w grand frescoes that celebrate florentine victories and medici power

    • political and symbolic heart of florence

    • chapels within complex let officials worship without having to leave complex

• cultural

  • urbanization, population of florence doubles

  • increase in trade and innovations in finance

  • newfound wealth allowed for more projects

  • images played role in focusing persons devotion to christ

  • development of italo-byzantine style

  • painter giotto forms new distinictively florentine style

    • captures holy figures majestically but set in earthly realm

    • modeled draperies and bodies underneath

    • use of perspective

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Monpazier

• religious

  • church of saint dominque = spiritual center

    • founded shortly after the town, holds religious services

    • placement is adjacent to market square, reflects madieval integration of sacred and secular life

    • church gained greater status and became focus of wider network of parishes

    • gothic, ren, combination of styles flows into choir stalls = place of continual worship

  • political

    • founded by contract of pareage (joint contract agreemnt) between jean de graily and king edward of england

    • rectangular plan = fortified enclosure expresses ordered government

    • town changed ownership after and suffered damage

  • architectural

    • rectangularly planned bastides

    • limestone buildings

    • gothic structure w nave vaulted and ren west portal

Lalibela

• religion

  • major pilgrimage site of eithiopian orthodox church

  • 11 churches remain active places of daily worship, liturgy, pilgrimage

  • creation shows long continuity of ethiopian christianity

  • biete medhani alem

    • largest monolithic church

    • elaborate network of trenches, tunnels, courtyards connects churches, shows unified sacred landscape

  • biete mariam

    • house of mary/church of saint of mary

    • one of most important and richly decorated

    • belongs to northern group of churches, one of oldest

    • monolithic churches

    • connected w passageways to other churches also shares courtyard w other church

    • houses tabot which is closely related with marian piety

  • church of saint george

    • reign of ing gebre

    • reached by long descending trench that cuts thru rocks

  • cultural

    • exterior has aksumite inspired window and door frames, horizontal string courses break up mass of rick

• political

  • king seeks out to recreate jerusalem, muslim conquests made journey to holy land hard

  • church serves to legitimize zagwe rule

• architectural

  • 11 churches, 2 groups separated by river jordan

great zimbabwe

• religious

  • hill complex

    • sacred site of shona people

    • accomodates residence of the ruler

  • the great enclosure

    • walled structure w turrets and monoliths, emulates for of earlier hill ruin

  • vallet ruins

    • # of structure that show site served as a hub for commercial exchange and long distance trade

    • found porcelain from china, beads from southasia

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• cultural

  • continuously inhabited by shona peoples

  • 250 royal houses made of clay

  • economy relies on management of livestock

    • cattle allowed shona people to move from agriculture to mining and trade

    • iron tools found on sit

  • thought to have prospered because gold mine nearby

  • influence dies after natural disasters and political skirmishes

  • conical tower

    • granite walls had no military function

    • structures show power and presitge of rulers

    • concial tower functioned as granary

      • ruler shows protection thru distribution of grains

• architectural

  • largest medieval stone complex in sub-saharan africa

  • constructed from stone masonry

  • not a single complex, 7 comparable states existed in this region

  • excavation revealed interior furnishings

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Great Mosque of Djenne

• religious

  • rpicenter for religious and cultural life, site of annual replastering festival

  • built by first muslim sultan, using local mateirals

    • needs to be replastered every 20 years due to materiality

    • replastering ceremony shows devotion and renewal

      • whole community comes to work together

      • communal devotion to islam

  • integration of islam into african culture

  • ostrich eggs placed at top = fertility

• political

  • political symbol for local residents like french who took control of mali

  • mosque towers above low rise abodes, symbol of power

  • mosque built using labor of enslaved people brought by French colonials

Foundling Hospital

• religious

  • hospitals not just medical facilities

    • physical and spiritual assistance with food, clothing, housing to pilgrims, poor and sick

    • dedicated to caring for abandoned children, usually children of assaulted slaves

    • name reflects story of herod killing children

    • complex includes a church, hospital work understood as charitable act.

  • cultural

    • reflects florences ideas about what a well-caring city should be doing for its people

  • political

    • connects the government with charity

    • silk guild sponsored and managed hospital, gives the a visible role in public life

  • architectural

    • rectangular forms show stability, and symmetry. imposes sense of order on the building, communicates stability in the face of unpredictable social circumstances.

    • glazed terracotta children adorn the walls

    • loggia was sheltered location for children to be dropped off, could leave them their without anyone seeing them