Islamic Design
The Taj Mahal
Standing at a surprisingly minimal 240 ft, the central dome of the Taj Mahal towers over its vast memorial complex. Constructed by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, "the Taj" - as it is reffered - was built as a memorial tomb for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built to be the grandest construction ever made by man, the Taj Mahal seems a suitable name; directly translating to the phrase "Crown of Palaces.
The Construction:
The Taj was mainly adorned with white marble, however, it was in fact built with many materials from all over India and Asia. The erecting of the structure was such a large undertaking in fact, that the scaffolding used during its construction was practically a monument all its own. A large brick structure that foreman suspected would take years to dismantle after the Taj's completion.
Nearly 1000 elephants were used to carry building materials to the site from across India. Equally the construction required a nearly 20,000 man workforce. Sculptors, Inlayers, Stone Cutters, and Engravers from across India were given the task of erecting this massive, and beautiful structure.
No comments:
Post a Comment