Mandu: Marble tomb of Hoshang Shah, 15th Century
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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The beautiful white marble tomb of the Shah Hoshang which we briefly mentioned in the previous slide is seen in its entirety here. Its groundplan follows that prescribed for the most common of Islamic types: cubiform in the first elevation, surmounted by a large dome at the second elevation. A single 'decorative' division of stories is visible quite high on the exterior walls on this example. Its Hindu features include the raised base, surmounted by a flight of stairs, and the spires topping the domes, which are adaptations of the Hindu sikhara roofs and Buddhist chattravali (symbolic 'umbrellas' which once crowned the Buddhist stupas). Carved decoration has been confined to the area immediately surrounding the doorways and narrowly trimming the roofline. The jali or stone grill work decoration can be seen framing the entrance at the left of the slide, but the narrow band of geometric designs crowning the roofline is not visible.
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Archives Series
Basham Collection
Date created
circa 1970s
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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Restricted until
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