Early Indian Architecture (Cities and City-gate)

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About the Book

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy's Early Indian Architecture is a study of the subject based mainly on the information as available in early Pali literature and as represented in the reliefs of Bharhut, Sanchi and Amaravati. The works is divided into two parts: Part I deal with cities and city-gates, etc. while Part II is on the Bodhi-gharas i.e., representation of the Bodhi-tree with or without a temple structure. Coomaraswamy has assembled the data systematically and in the process brought out details not only from literature but also form sculptural representations. He has confined himself not only to the early texts and material but has also made use of information from later examples, particularly forts, etc. The details about the lay-out of early cities, along with their different components, architectural terms as available in early texts and illustrations with copious notes on each have made this work invaluable for those interested in serious study of the subject. This monograph is a must for student of archaeology including art and architecture.

About the Author

Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy, the greatest among the Indian Art historians, was born in Colombo on August 22, 1877. After graduating from the University of London, he became the Director of the Mineralogical Survey of Ceylon. Between 1906 and 1907, when he joined as the Curator of Indian Art in the Bostom Museum he was busy lecturing of Indian art and formed societies for the study of Indian Art. In 1938, he became the Chairman of National Committee for India's Freedom. His contributions on Indian philosophy, religion, art and iconography, painting and literature are of the greatest importance as were his contributions on music, science and Islamic art. He died on September 9, 1947