Sarnath: Great Stupa 7th Century

Date

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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

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Abstract

Description

The form of the stupa underwent vast changes over the centuries of its building in India and developed from a simple semi-spherical mound of earth to a huge elongated dome embellished with the most extravagantly decorative sculpture produced in Indian art, The construction of a stupa is managed in a single effort, but the embellishment of the shrine and the sanctuary takes place over a period of ages, The casing, for example, is added after the mound has been formed and could constantly be recovered with new casing to renew the decoration or to change it, In our illustration, the Great Sarnath Stupa is again undergoing encasement, and we can still see the remnants of earlier work and the degree to which it has deteriorated, The style of this shrine dates to the 7th century when height was sought and the mound itself does not really remain spherical, but rather elongates above a truncated basement, Apparently, no ambulatory was added to this stupa,

Citation

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Type

Archives Series

Basham Collection

Date created

circa 1970s

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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

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