QUIZ – 2020: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 20 June 2020 – Art and Culture

Solution: a)

The tradition of constructing pillars is very old and it may be observed that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian Empire as well. This can be contrasted with the Mauryan pillars which were different from the Achamenian pillars.

The Mauryan pillars are rock-cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills, whereas the Achamenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason.

Stone pillars were erected all over the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them. The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures like the bull, the lion, the elephant, etc.

All the capital figures are vigorous.

Solution: a)

Found at Sarnath and popularly known as the Lion Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition.

It is also our national emblem. It is carved with considerable care—voluminous roaring lion figures firmly standing on a circular abacus which is carved with the figures of a horse, a bull, a lion and an elephant in vigorous movement, executed with precision, showing considerable mastery in the sculptural techniques.

This pillar capital symbolising Dhammachakrapravartana (the first sermon by the Buddha) has become a standard symbol of this great historical event in the life of the Buddha.

Solution: c)

Nalanda was a Mahavihara, a large and revered Buddhist monastery, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. Originally built by Emperor Kumaragupta I of Gupta Dynasty; Expansion works continued during and after Gupta period. Post the Gupta period Nalanda continued to develop under the auspices of several kings, particularly during the 7th century under the reign of emperor Harsha of Kannauj. The Chinese Pilgrims Huien Tsang and Fa-hien studied at Nalanda and have left account of the settlement and its life.

Solution: c)

Kanchi, known as Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, it was here around 600 BC to 300 BC that the Chinese used to come in foreign ships to purchase pearls, rare stones and glass in return they sold gold and silk.

Madura (Madurai) in Tamil Nadu: It was the capital of the Pandayas who controlled the pearl fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar.

Muziris was an ancient Indo-Roman port of Muziris or Musiri on the Malabar Coast, Kerala dating back to 1st century BC.

The Chola Dynasty port city in Tamil Nadu that vanished from maritime history around 1,000 years ago will be digitally reconstructed by a consortium led by the Department of Science and Technology.

DST officials said there are exhaustive narrations in works of Sangam Tamil literature to infer that the city, located 30 km from the existing Poompuhar town in southern TN, was submerged due to “kadalkol” or rising sea levels.

Solution: d)

One of the most important Neolithic agricultural settlements in Indian subcontinent is Mehrgarh. It is located on the Bolan River, a tributary of the Indus, at the eastern edge of the Baluchistan plateau.

Other important Neolithic sites include Gufkral and Burzahom in Kashmir; Mahgara, Chopani Mando, and Koldihwa in Belan valley in Uttar Pradesh; Chirand in Bihar etc.

In South India, the important Neolithic sites include Kodekal, Utnur, Nagatjunikonda, Palavoy in Andhra Pradesh; Tekkalkolta, Maski, Narsipur, Sangankallu, Hallur, and Brahmagiri in Karnataka; Pariamlpalli in Tamil Nadu etc.