Iron pillar at Kutub, Delhi - 1858

by **Admin** Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:23 pm

Iron pillar at Kutub, Delhi - 1858

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Photograph of Iron Pillar in the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi from
'Murray Collection: Views in Delhi, Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares'
taken by Dr. John Murray in 1858 after the Uprising of 1857. The Qutub
Minar complex was initiated by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the
Slave Dynasty in Delhi (1206-90), to celebrate the onset of Islamic rule
in India in 1192. The Iron Pillar, with a height of 7.2 m and diameter
of 32 cm, is dated to the Gupta period with Sanskrit inscriptions from
the 4th or 5th century. This pillar was taken from a Vishnu temple and
placed at this site before the construction of the complex. The
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, in the background, contained within the complex
is one of the earliest extant in India and is a fine example of Islamic
architecture employing Islamic principles of accurate construction and
geometric ornamentation, but utilising Indian building traditions.

thanks:http://www.oldindianphotos.in/search/label/1850s