View allAll Photos Tagged Structure
The kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. Located in Tamil Nadu, India, it is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. The low-slung sandstone compound contains a large number of carvings, including many half-animal deities which were popular during the early Dravidian architectural period. The structure contains 58 small shrines which are dedicated to various forms of Shiva. These are built into niches on the inner face of the high compound wall of the circumambulatory passage. The temple is one the most prominent tourist attractions of the city.
GEOGRAPHY
The temple is located on the banks of the Vedavathi River at the western limits of the Kanchipuram. It faces east. Its location, demarcated according to the religious faiths, is in one of three "Kanchis", the Shiva Kanchi; the other two Kanchis are, Vishnu Kanchi and Jain Kanchi. It is 75 kilometres from the Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Kailasanathar is one of several notable temples in Kanchipuram, the others being Ekambaranatha, Kachapeshwarar, Kamakshi Amman, Kumarakottam Temple, and Varadaraja Perumal.
HISTORY
The Kailasanathar Temple (meaning:“Lord of the Cosmic Mountain”), is built in the tradition of Smartha worship of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya (Sun), Ganapathi and Kartikeya, in Hinduism, a practice which replaced the Buddhism.
Temple construction is credited to the Pallava dynasty, who had established their kingdom with Kanchipuram (also known as "Kanchi" or "Shiva Vishnu Kanchi") as the capital city, considered one of the seven sacred cities under Hinduism. There was an interregnum when the Chalukya rulers defeated the Pallavas and occupied Kanchipuram. However, the Pallavas regained their territory and started expanding their capital city of Kanchipuram and built many temples of great magnificence. The only temple of this period which is extant is the Kailsahanathar Temple.
The temple was built during 685-705AD. It is the first structural temple built in South India by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), and who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front façade and the gopuram (tower). Prior temples were either built of wood or hewn into rock faces in caves or on boulders, as seen in Mahabalipuram. The Kailasanathar temple became the trend setter for other similar temples in South India. According to local belief, the temple was a safe sanctuary for the rulers of the kingdom during wars. A secret tunnel, built by the kings, was used as an escape route and is still visible.
The temple has gone by other names such as Kachipettu Periya Thirukatrali (meaning: Stone Temple of Kachipettu, the old name for the present day Kanchipuram) when Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola Dynasty paid a visit to this temple. Inspired by the architecture of this temple, he built the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Currently, Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple has retained the Pallava architecture in its original stylized form with influence of the later styles developed by the Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors. It is of stone built architecture unlike the rock cut architecture built into hallowed caves or carved into rock outcrops as in Mahabalipuram. The tall gopuram (tower) is to the left and the temple complex is to the right. The temple's foundations are made of granite, which could withstand the weight of the temple, while the super structure including the carvings are all made of sandstone. Initially, only the main sanctuary existed with pyramidal vimana and a detached mandapa (main hall). The temple complex is complete in all respects as it has garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum), antarala (inner enclosure), mandapa, a high compound wall, and an entrance gate, the gopuram. The mandapa, which was initially detached, was made part of the main shrine by interposing an ardhamantapa (smaller hall). The pillars of the mandapa have the repetitive features of mythical lion mounts.The structure has a simple layout with a tower or shikara at the center of the complex. The shikara of the temple, above the main shrine (sanctum sanctorum), is square in plan and rises up in a curvilinear style or pyramidal shape. The tower has many levels rising proportionately. At the top of this tower, there is a small roof in the shape of a dome. The pillar elements with mythical animal shapes (lions on the base) are extra features in Pallava style. At the entrance, the gopuram walls are plastered. Its entrance wall has eight small shrines and a gopura, precursor to the main gopura. At some later stage, the mandapa and the sanctuary were joined by an intermediate hall called the ardhamantapa, which is reported to have marred the beauty of the temple to some extent. The temple is enclosed within walls in a rectangular layout.
SHRINES
The main shrine has a 16 sided Shivalinga in black granite stone deified in the sanctum sanctorum. Within the walls of the main shrine there is padabhanda adhisthana (main pedestal) with very elegantly carved images of gods with a sculpted Nandi, a little distance away giving guard to the deity. On each face of the outer walls of the main shrine there are many carvings of gods and goddesses. In the south facing wall the sculpture depicts Shiva as Umamaheshavara with Varaha (incarnation of Vishnu as a boar) raising the linga, flanked by Brahma and Vishnu and flying amaras at the lower level. The west facing hall has sculptures of Shiva in the form of Sandhya Tandavamurti and Urdhava Tandvamurti and the ensemble is completed with images of ganas in dancing poses and also with images of Brahma, Vishnu, Nandi and Parvathi. The carving of Shiva on the north facing wall is a composition of Tripurantaka flanked by three ganas, goddess Durga with three ganas, and Bhairavi, Kaushiki and Jyestha. The exterior faces of the vimana (tower) have images of Bhikshatana, Somaskanda and Shiva in Samhara-Tandava (destructive dancing) pose. In the inner walls of the prakara (circumabulatory passage) there is galaxy of images of Durga, Skanda, Bhavati, Tripurantaka, Garudarudha-Vishnu, Asura Samhara (slaying of demons), Narasimha Vishnu (Vishnu in the incarnation of lion faced man), Trivikrama, Shiva Tandava (Shiva in a dancing pose), Shiva severing the fifth head of Brahma, desecration of Yagna of Daksha, Brahma and his wife, Gangadhara, Urdhava tandava, Vishnu flanked by Bhudevi and Sridevi, Lingodhbava (emergence of linga), Bhikshatana, Ravana, and Vali offering prayers to Atmalinga Chandikeshvara. Vimana's south facing wall has very elegant image of Shiva in a sitting posture of peace and quietude known as Dakhshinamurti, and its west wall has Shiva in the form of Lingodhbava.
The tower has multiple shrines embodied on all its external faces which have the appearance of miniature shrines. These shrines have three features, the sala (rectangular), kuta (square) and panjara (apsidal) styles. Eight small shrines also decorate the entrance wall. The 58 small shrines are built into the niches of the compound wall that encloses the main shrine; they depict Somaskanada reliefs of Shiva and his consort Parvathi in many dance forms.
OTHER FEATURES
The outstanding feature of sculptures is the profusion of depiction of the erect lions projecting out in several directions. There are two sculptures of Shiva here which are seen holding the Veena (musical string instrument) in the hand. There is a lot of difference between the Veena found in the said sculptures and the present day Veena. There are also beautiful sculptures of Mathahvialasa Prakshanam. The temple also has the earliest stone inscription records of the twenty eight Saivagamas (Shaiva saints) in which the Pallava King Rajasimhavarman states his faith in Shaivism. The murals on the inner walls are well preserved.
CIRCUMAMBULATORY PASSAGE
A circumambulatory passage, with a symbolic meaning is situated along the compound wall. In order to make the circumambulation, there is a narrow entry passage which devotees must crawl through. Seven steps must be climbed in order to reach the passage. Passing through the narrow passage is indicative of passage through life. After the circumambulation, the exit is through a pit or another narrow passage symbolic of death. It is believed that making the circumambulation round the various deities would usher the same blessings as visiting paradise.
FESTIVAL
Maha Shivaratri is the biggest festival held in the temple when thousand of devotees throng the temple in the evening hours to offer prayers to the main deity.
WIKIPEDIA
Chrystian Guy
Please use according to licence. Ask for details if needed.
Exif data auto added by theGOOD Uploadr
File Size : 6.3 mb
Camera Make : Canon
Camera Model : Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Exposure : 0.004 seconds
Aperture : f/3.5
ISO Speed : 100
Focal Length : 10 mm
An odd structure built into the hillside with a midget sized door and the roof is lower on one end than the other, I have no idea what role this building had.
Cone-in-cone limestone bed, composed of finely fibrous calcite. This weathered sample is likely derived from an interbed in the Ohio Shale outcrop belt (Frasnian-Famennian, Upper Devonian) of central Ohio, USA.
Cone-in-cone structures are strange features found as interbeds in fine-grained siliciclastic rocks and sometimes found in the outer layers of concretions. They consist of sets of conical structures stacked up within each other. Mineralogically, they are often composed of finely-crystalline fibrous calcite. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed over the years that try to explain cone-in-cone structures. None has emerged as the most popular or most likely (see Lugli et al., 2005 for a long list of proposed formation mechanisms). These structures remain a mystery.
--------------------------
For more info. on cone-in-cone structures, see (as examples):
Melichar & Shkovira (2001) - Case study of the cone-in-cone structure based on Czech and Crimean samples. GeoLines 13.
Lugli et al. (2005) - Silicified cone-in-cone structures from Erfoud (Morocco): a comparison with impact-generated shatter cones. in Impact tectonics. Impact Studies 6: 81-110.
Commercial Indoor Play Structures & Playground Equipment for all types of businesses. Family Entertainment Centers, Shopping Centers, Retail Stores, Casinos, Hotels/Resorts, Churches, Children Ministries and more.
Neighbors noticed the two car detached garage at 105 Davis Rd to be going good so they made the call to the Seymour Volunteers. When the tones dropped an automatic mutual aid was requested from the Town of Oxford for a ladder truck as Seymour's was out of service. The fire crews arrived to a fully involved garage fire which was spreading to the exposed section of the 1.5 story wood dwelling which was in close proximity. Fire had extended into the first floor as well as the attic space but quick work from the responders kept the fire from engulfing the dwelling as well. Searchs of the home were negative but the owner was still unaccounted for. As marshals dug throught the rubble which was once the garage in hopes of determining the origin of the fire they made the discovery of human remains amongst the ashes and charred wood. The body which was badly burned was taken by the medical examiners office so an autopsy might reveal the identity of the deceased.
So these are some rocks stacked on top of each other, I think there a little weird and I'm surprised no ones tried to knock them over
Conference theme:
BUILDING THE INTERNET OF THINGS
Connecting our homes and business to the internet will disrupt businesses, improve efficiency and usher in an era of disruption not seen since the beginning of the web.
British Army barracks, built in the 1960s, replacing some 1940s structures [ whole area was a maze of British army barracks, forts, batteries & PoW camps built between 1875 – 1899 ]. Dedicated to officers with families. British Army left in 1979 and site was handed over to the Maltese government.
The place is now falling apart, and used for motorcross, paintballing, laser tag, picnicking, graffiti and possibly home to some homeless people. Some quotes I've found online . . . .
“The accommodation was of high quality in a mix of 4 bedroom houses and 3 bedroom flats. All of them were provided with central heating, telephone and garage.“
“From 1973 to 1975 I lived in one of the 4 bedroom bungalows. They were very spacious and comfortable with fantastic views. Not a bad place to spend a couple of years, school in the mornings and then swimming in the afternoons. It’s a shame to see the state they’re in now.”
“In October/November 1978 I was one of the last UK MoD residents at St Patrick’s. The whole married quarter’s complex was handed over to the Malta Government, complete and in excellent working order. The houses and flats still had their furniture and fittings and could have been occupied immediately by Maltese families as either social (Government) housing or sold to private and individual owners.
In 1984 the whole complex was being marketed as a holiday resort – “The White Rocks Resort”. . . . . . . . By 1992 the resort was no more and the former housing was turning into an unauthorised tip, the houses stripped of fixtures and fittings.”
“I spent several excellent holidays at White Rocks and I am very sorry to see the state it is in. We stayed in a spacious two bedroom ”bungalow” with sitting room and kitchen plus a shared patio area and we just loved the place. The bulk of guests at the times we stayed there were kids from Europe sent to improve their English. They were off the premesis in class by 9 o’clock and we had the pool to ourselves until they returned at 1 o’clock; by which time we were nicely toasted and ready to go out exploring . . . . “
“I spent two summers at the White Rocks with friends from Rome and Sicily in -best guess- 1985 and 1987 or 1988. It was cheap enough for us college students back then. So many memories. . . . “
Une partie de la toiture d'un édifice du gouvernement du Canada, autrefois l'Hotel de ville d'Ottawa.
The roof of a Canada government building, formerly Ottawa City Hall.
I miss my old lighthouse...
The Kauhola Point Lighthouse was removed in 2010 because wave action had eroded the shoreline underneath its foundations. The lighthouse was deemed unsafe, and was torn down and replaced with what is called a "monopole structure". This translates roughly as "stainless tube with a ladder on one side and a light on top."
The top actually looks remarkably similar to the old lighthouse. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing they used the beacon off the old lighthouse. Aside from the obvious differences, it's moved inland somewhat. The foundations, and the ruins from the old power plant have all been removed. Nothing left but footprints.
The structure of Earth image is one of the pictures electronically placed on the phonograph records which are carried onboard the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.
Credit: Jon Lomberg
Please note that these images are copyright protected. Reproduction without permission of the copyright holder is prohibited.
Tokyo Tower (東京タワー Tōkyō tawā?) is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 333 meters (1,091 ft), it is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world and the tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.
Built in 1958, the tower's main sources of revenue are tourism and antenna leasing. Over 150 million people have visited the tower since its opening. FootTown, a 4-story building located directly under the tower, houses museums, restaurants and shops. Departing from here, guests can visit two observation decks. The 2-story Main Observatory is located at 150 meters (492 ft), while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 250 meters (820 ft).
The tower acts as a support structure for an antenna. Originally intended for television broadcasting, radio antennas were installed in 1961 and the tower is now used to broadcast both signals for Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. Japan's planned switch from analog to digital for all television broadcasting by July 2011 is problematic, however. Tokyo Tower's current height is not high enough to adequately support complete terrestrial digital broadcasting to the area. A taller digital broadcasting tower known as Tokyo Sky Tree is currently planned to open in 2011.
Tokyo Tower (東京タワー Tōkyō tawā?) is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 333 meters (1,091 ft), it is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world and the tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.
Built in 1958, the tower's main sources of revenue are tourism and antenna leasing. Over 150 million people have visited the tower since its opening. FootTown, a 4-story building located directly under the tower, houses museums, restaurants and shops. Departing from here, guests can visit two observation decks. The 2-story Main Observatory is located at 150 meters (492 ft), while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 250 meters (820 ft).
The tower acts as a support structure for an antenna. Originally intended for television broadcasting, radio antennas were installed in 1961 and the tower is now used to broadcast both signals for Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. Japan's planned switch from analog to digital for all television broadcasting by July 2011 is problematic, however. Tokyo Tower's current height is not high enough to adequately support complete terrestrial digital broadcasting to the area. A taller digital broadcasting tower known as Tokyo Sky Tree is currently planned to open in 2011.
The world’s largest dome structure, complete with retractable roof: National Stadium. With adjustable seating depending on the event, you can fit up to 55,000 people! Don’t tell One Direction, though, they only sold 29,000 tickets when they played. It’s part of the Singapore Sports Hub, an area with an absurd amount of things to do. An aquatic centre, another indoor stadium, shopping mall, water park, skate park, lawn bowling green, climbing wall, beach volleyball court, sports library, and museum. What is a sports library even supposed to be? I assume a collection of Sport’s Illustrated Swimsuit Edition issues. The entire Sports Hub holds up 80,000 people throughout the other sports venues besides the National Stadium.
And because everything in Singapore is meticulously planned, the Sports Hub is part of the government’s “Vision 2030 sports master plan.” (They evidently missed the memo about the phrase “master plan” belonging to villains and evil masterminds) Vision 2030 is the Singapore Sports Council’s 20 year road map for using sport as a strategy for Singaporeans to have a healthier and better life through the impactful experience of Sport. America’s Vision 2030 is probably just hope that we’re still able to move around without the help of rascal scooters.
BONUS POINTS: At night, both sides of the massive retractable roof become giant projector screens!
Artworks. If and when these structures are redeveloped into executive studio apartments all this will be lost.
This was taken whilst close to Olympic Park.
I think that the overcast sky and the pushing of the black levels have made this appear like something a bit shadowy and menacing (in a way).
I think that the cables help to give a good sense of depth.
I like that you also get a good idea of the size of these structures without having a person in the photo.