An archaeologist studies civilization's past by studying the physical remains of artifacts left by that civilization to understand their culture Archeology is actually a sub field of anthropology, as anthropology is a broad study of all human culture Archeologists want to understand why people lived where they lived, what life might have been like for a group of people, and what changes to their society may have occurred over time. Archeologists would even discover the advances made by the civilization over time. From my Post Graduation time, I had a strong inclination to study Archeology. So I took my special paper as Ancient Indian History My heart felt gratitude to Prof Sanjay Kumar Acharya, HOD of Ancient Indian History and Archeology, who suggested me to write about "Indian Arts and Iconography. According to him this book will help students of Archeology of all Indian Universities. For me definitely it's a challenging subject to complete.
Iconography is concerned with historical art form that deals with the representation, identification, description and interpretation of the content or subject of images. Indian iconography inherits various attributes and variety which requires a careful and systematic study. The simple and rudimentary type of figures developed into complex forms in the later period. Additional attributes were developed and the earlier ones frequently discarded or modified Sometimes earlier iconographic concepts change so frequently that the original was difficult to recognize.
They represent an elementary iconography which grew into a complex one during the succeeding centuries. In the early depiction of deities more than a single pair of arms is unknown.
The few existing images of the first two centuries and after the Christian era are simple and are based on the popular "Yaksha" type. The cult of Kubera, Vasudeva and Siva are the most important in the two centuries B.C.
The crown of Visnu and other deities is absent in earlier form, which were very popular in sculptures of later period. Rudra (Described as Usnisin' or one wearing a turban in Yajurveda), the representation of Siva at Gudimallam belonging to 2nd century B.CE also show him wearing a turban. The turban was the only head gear known and the mukutmani or head gem was wrapped in the turban centrally or towards one side.
In earlier age, sculptures were without "Yajnopavita but it became an invariable feature in all later representations. The regular "Yajnopavita" appear for the first time in the Ikshavaku sculptures. The development of ornamental motifs is clearly visible by the changes in Pallava, Chola and other periods in South India. The changes were not only limited to Yajnopavita alone but also observable in Swarn Vaikaksha, Udarbandh, Katisutra, and in the arrangement of drapery also.
Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct from artistic style. The techniques of iconography one needs to know about icons. The branch of knowledge that deals with the representative art in the form of pictures, drawings, figures or images or icons is called iconography.
An iconography is a particular range or system of types of image used by an artist or artists to convey particular meanings. For example in Christian religious painting there is an iconography of images such as the lamb which represents Christ, or the dove which represents the Holy Spirit. In the iconography of classical myth however, the presence of a dove would suggest that any woman also present would be the goddess Aphrodite or Venus, so the meanings of particular images can depend on context.
Religious Iconography in Indian Sculpture Religious Iconography in Indian sculpture showcases the early era Hindu cult and religion, which makes itself. the conventional tradition of India. Religious Iconography in Khajuraho Temple, Madhya Pradesh.
The temples in Khajuraho share both design and layout from the Chandella times. They are built on a high plinth, with multiple ascending spires, which are believed to be inspired by the peaks of the Himalayas. The larger temples, like the Lakshmana, Vishvanatha and Kandariya Mahadeva, are accompanied by smaller temples, the not so large ones stand alone. Their interior and exterior and sometimes the platforms too are adorned with figures of gods, goddesses, nymphs, humans and animals. It is among these depictions of life that the famous or infamous erotic sculptures can also be spotted.
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