The Monastic Landscape of Late Antique Egypt

The Monastic Landscape of Late Antique Egypt

Author: Darlene L. Brooks Hedstrom

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2017-11-23

Total Pages: 455

ISBN-13: 1107161819

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book traces changing perceptions of Egypt's monastic landscape through an analysis of archaeological and documentary evidence from late antiquity.


Buddhist Architecture

Buddhist Architecture

Author: Huu Phuoc Le

Publisher: Grafikol

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 0984404309

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"The volume thoroughly examines the origins and principal types of Buddhist architecture in Asia primarily between the third century BCE-twelfth century CE with an emphasis on India. It aims to construct shared architectural traits and patterns alongwith the derivative relationships between Indian and Asian Buddhist monuments. It also discusses the historical antecedents in the Indus Civilization and the religious and philosophical foundations of the three schools of Buddhism and its founder, Buddha. Previously obscure topics such as Aniconic and Vajrayana (Tantric) architecture and the four holiest sites of Buddhism will also be covered in this comprehensive volume. The author further investigates the influences of Buddhist architecture upon Islamic, Christian, and Hindu architecture that have been overlooked by past scholars."


Copts in Context

Copts in Context

Author: Nelly van Doorn-Harder

Publisher: Univ of South Carolina Press

Published: 2017-10-03

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 1611177855

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive examination of this deeply traditional Christian religion as it confronts modernity Though the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt is among the oldest Christian communities in the world, it remained relatively unknown outside of Egypt for most of its existence. In the wake of the Arab Spring, however, this community was caught up in regional violence, and its predicament became a cause for concern around the world. Copts in Context examines the situation of the Copts as a minority faith in a volatile region and as a community confronting modernity while steeped in tradition. Nelly van Doorn-Harder opens Coptic identity and tradition to a broad range of perspectives: historical, political, sociological, anthropological, and ethnomusicological. Starting with contemporary issues such as recent conflicts in Egypt, the volume works back to topics—among them the Coptic language, the ideals and tradition of monasticism, and church historiography—that while rooted in the ancient past, nevertheless remain vital in Coptic memory and understanding of culture and tradition. Contributors examine developments in the Coptic diaspora, in religious education and the role of children, and in Coptic media, as well as considering the varied nature of Coptic participation in Egyptian society and politics over millennia. With many Copts leaving the homeland, preservation of Coptic history, memory, and culture has become a vital concern to the Coptic Church. These essays by both Coptic and non-Coptic scholars offer insights into present-day issues confronting the community and their connections to relevant themes from the past, demonstrating reexamination of that past helps strengthen modern-day Coptic life and culture.


Ashoka in Ancient India

Ashoka in Ancient India

Author: Nayanjot Lahiri

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2015-08-05

Total Pages: 472

ISBN-13: 0674915259

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In the third century BCE, Ashoka ruled an empire encompassing much of modern-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. During his reign, Buddhism proliferated across the South Asian subcontinent, and future generations of Asians came to see him as the ideal Buddhist king. Disentangling the threads of Ashoka’s life from the knot of legend that surrounds it, Nayanjot Lahiri presents a vivid biography of this extraordinary Indian emperor and deepens our understanding of a legacy that extends beyond the bounds of Ashoka’s lifetime and dominion. At the center of Lahiri’s account is the complex personality of the Maurya dynasty’s third emperor—a strikingly contemplative monarch, at once ambitious and humane, who introduced a unique style of benevolent governance. Ashoka’s edicts, carved into rock faces and stone pillars, reveal an eloquent ruler who, unusually for the time, wished to communicate directly with his people. The voice he projected was personal, speaking candidly about the watershed events in his life and expressing his regrets as well as his wishes to his subjects. Ashoka’s humanity is conveyed most powerfully in his tale of the Battle of Kalinga. Against all conventions of statecraft, he depicts his victory as a tragedy rather than a triumph—a shattering experience that led him to embrace the Buddha’s teachings. Ashoka in Ancient India breathes new life into a towering figure of the ancient world, one who, in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, “was greater than any king or emperor.”


Ancient Varanasi

Ancient Varanasi

Author: Vidula Jayaswal

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Varanasi is not only one of the oldest living cities of the world, but is also a model reflecting a comprehensive picture of our rich cultural heritage. The undisrupted occupation of Kashi region since ancient times till this date, played a vital role in the make up of modern Varanasi. The unique qualities of this settlements raise a number of questions, like, how old is Varanasi? What are the factors which helped this city to continue till today, particularly when other old cities on the banks of the Ganga died out? Also, why did Lord Buddha select peripheral region of Varanasi, Sarnath, for delivering his first sermon, particularly when he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya? It is on record that he was well conversant with Rajgriha, Pataliputra and other places of Bihar. And since when Saivism became an integral part of the Varanasi culture? All these questions are deeply rooted in the history of this holy city, which are attempted in this book on account of the archaeological findings. Ancient remains of Varanasi which were unearthed at Kashi-Rajghat about four decades ago, could demonstrate that this holy city was inhabited around ninth century BC, Sarnath, the place of the first sermon of Gautam Buddha, retains archaeological remains from the time of the Maurya king Asoka. But, excavations at Aktha reveal that this settlement had greater antiquity than has been obtained at Kashi-Rajghat. It also reveal the factors which helped make up of Sarnath as the first place for preaching the teachings of Lord Buddha. The first colonization of Kashi region, on account of the excavated findings could be pushed back to about four/five hundred years. this bridged the gap between the antiquity ascertained by ancient texts and earlier archaeological records of Varanasi. Besides the Risipattana concept attached with Sarnath in the Buddhist literature is also corroborated by Aktha. This book adds new chapter to the early history of Varanasi city and Sarnath.


From Temple to Museum

From Temple to Museum

Author: Salila Kulshreshtha

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2017-10-05

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1351356097

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Religious icons have been a contested terrain across the world. Their implications and understanding travel further than the artistic or the aesthetic and inform contemporary preoccupations.This book traces the lives of religious sculptures beyond the moment of their creation. It lays bare their purpose and evolution by contextualising them in their original architectural or ritual setting while also following their displacement. The work examines how these images may have moved during different spates of temple renovation and acquired new identities by being relocated either within sacred precincts or in private collections and museums, art markets or even desecrated and lost. The book highlights contentious issues in Indian archaeology such as renegotiating identities of religious images, reuse and sharing of sacred space by adherents of different faiths, rebuilding of temples and consequent reinvention of these sites. The author also engages with postcolonial debates surrounding history writing and knowledge creation in British India and how colonial archaeology, archival practices, official surveys and institutionalisation of museums has influenced the current understanding of religion, sacred space and religious icons. In doing so it bridges the historiographical divide between the ancient and the modern as well as socio-religious practices and their institutional memory and preservation. Drawn from a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary study of religious sculptures, classical texts, colonial archival records, British travelogues, official correspondences and fieldwork, the book will interest scholars and researchers of history, archaeology, religion, art history, museums studies, South Asian studies and Buddhist studies.


THAKUR VIJAYAM:Spectrum of History, Culture and Archaeological Studies

THAKUR VIJAYAM:Spectrum of History, Culture and Archaeological Studies

Author: Prof. P. CHENNA REDDY

Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers

Published: 2023-01-09

Total Pages: 399

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Thakur Vijayam: Spectrum of History, Culture and Archaeological Studies is a Commemoration Volume presented to Prof. Vijay Kumar Thakur was a renowned Historian in India, on his Eighty second birth anniversary (15th July 1941). These articles are in other way serve as garland of flowers to decor Prof. Vijay Kumar Thakur. A great scholar in History, Buddhism, Epigraphy, Archaeology, andCulture. There are more than 35 articles shedding light on History, Culture and Archaeological Studies. This prestigious volume contains a wide spectrum of research articles covering Archaeology, History, Art, Architecture, Epigraphy and Numismatics, Buddhism, Religion and Philosophy Tourism, Modern History and Economic history, Folklore, literature and culture, This volume was edited by Prof. Pedarapu Chenna Reddy who is already well-known for similar volumes in honour of Prof. B. Rama Raju, Dr. P. V. P. Sastry, Prof. R. Soma Reddy, Dr. I. K. Sarma, Dr. V. V. Krishna Sastry, Dr. Robert G. Bednarik, Prof. A. Sundara, Dr. Deme Raja Reddy, Dr. Annapareddy Venkateswara Reddy, Prof. K. V. Raman, Dr. Janumaddi Hanumath Sastry, Prof. K. Rajayyan, Prof. Alan Dundes, Prof. Bhakthavathsala Reddy, Prof. K. K. N. Kurup, Dr. A. K. V. S Reddy, Dr. Y. Gopala Reddy, Prof. M. L. K. Murty, Dr. M. D. Sampath, Prof. Katta Narasimha Reddy, Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah etc.