Art and Archaeology of Konark Sun Temple:A World Heritage Site

Summary

The name Konark is derived from the Sanskrit word Kona (meaning angle) and word Arka (meaning sun) in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun god Surya. The entire complex was designed in the form of the God’s huge chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated wheels at its base.The Sun Temple of Konark often called as the Black Pagoda was constructed in mid thirteenth century by Raja Narasinghs Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty. It is an ample testament to the artistic glory of the time. This temple is a unique in its art, architecture and implementation. In 1837, James Ferguson first unearthed this temple and in 1988, UNESCO declared this majestic architecture as World Heritage site. The temple is now partly in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, which is run by the Archaeological Survey of India. My paper intends to throw light on the archaeology and art of this majestic architecture of India.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Ethics and Governance   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-29,07