Mandu: Women's Palace, Bathing pool

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Collections	Arthur Llewellyn Basham
Title:	Mandu: Women's Palace, Bathing pool
Author(s):	Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
Keywords:	Provincial Sultanates-- Malwa-- Mandu;architecture
Series/Report no.:	Basham Collection
Description:	A common feature of palaces and many larger private residences are the extensive gardens and pools located in central courtyards at the interior of the compound. Gardens containing pools were generally rectangular in plan with one or more channels emanating from a main pool. As we can see by the sturdy walls surrounding the garden, the Moslem practice of fortifying towns was extended to even the private residence. This also follows the custom of keeping the women's quarters strictly secluded from the men's. In the elegant shape of the pool we notice a masterful and creative use of various geometric shapes. Stairs and benches line the rim of the pool for easy access, and even these are carefully laid down in pre-planned designs. Note, for example, the tiny access gate at the foot of the stairs to the middle right of the slide: the same ogival motif has been incorporated as it would normally be applied to doors and gateways as well as windows.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/1885/182665
Other Identifiers:	ANUA 682-2032

File	Description	Size	Format	Image
ANUA_682_2032.tif		15.97 MB	TIFF

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