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Prague Castle (Pražský hrad)
For more than a thousand years, has the Prague Castle been an important symbol of the Czech state. Founded in the 9th century, it became the permanent seat of the Czech rulers and, most recently, also of the Presidents. One of the largest castle complexes in the world consists of palaces, offices, churches and fortification buildings, gardens and picturesque corners. The castle covers an area of 45 hectares. The unique view to the Prague Castle is one of the most amazing panorama views in the world.
Prague Castle is the most important folk-cultural and historical monument, and is the symbol of the more than one thousand years of development of the Czech and all-Czech states. It is a monumental symbol of the palace, church, fortification, official and residential buildings which represent very valuable monuments, included in all style epochs. It covers an area of 45 hectares, was the seat of the Bohemian princes, kings and emperors, and since the Republic was founded in 1918, it was also the residence of the presidents. Since 1962, the Prague Castle has been known for its archaeological discoveries.
History
The initial phases of the Prague Castle are connected with the first historically documented Přemyslid Bořivoj (Bořivoj I (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbɔr̝ɪvɔj], Latin: Borzivogius, c. 852 – c. 889) was the first historically documented Duke of Bohemia from about 870 and progenitor of the Přemyslid dynasty.] The Duchy of Bohemia was at those times subordinated to Great Moravia.). This one transferred in the 80s of the 9th century his original seat from Levý Hradec to the place where on the raised spot above the river Vltava/Moldau already existed a Slavic castle and was very well situated.
The first princely palace apparently only consisted of wood. The first stone building and the oldest Christian sanctuary was the Virgin Mary Church. Its remains have been found between the Second Courtyard and the Bastion garden (original name of the garden: Na Baště). This Bořivoj church was soon reconstructed by the prince Spytihněv I, who was buried here in 915. The second church in the castle was the St. George Basilica founded by Prince Vratislaus I. The next Přemyslide, Prince Wenceslas (Saint), the third sanctuary - the St Veit Rotunda - in the twenties of the 10th century nearby had built which in the 11th century by Prince Spytihnev II was transformed into a huge basilica.
In 973, when the bishopric was established in Prague, the castle was not only the seat of the head of state, but also the seat of the Prague bishop, the highest representative of the church. At the same time arose the first monastery in Bohemia at St. George's basilica.
In the 10th century the castle occupied an area of about 6 ha. In the Romanesque epoch the former fortress, especially after the year 1135 thanks to Soběslaus I, as the stony princely palace and the new masonry fortified with some towers were erected, was turned into a fortified medieval castle. Of the towers is the eastern blacktower best preserved.
Very significantly the Gothic period in the appearance of Prague Castle intervened, most of all Charles IV (1346 - 1378), who, with his father, John of Luxemburg (1310 - 1346), obtained from the pope the promotion of the Prague bishopric to the archbishopric and laid the foundations for the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral. Under Charles IV, the castle for the first time was turned into the imperial residence. Charles IV the defense of the Prague Castle had consolidated, the Royal Palace with the Chapel of All Saints he rebuilt generously. The roofs he had covered with gilded plates, which were the foundation for the binding of words "Golden Prague". Since 1382, Bohemian rulers ceased to occupy the Prague Castle for more than 100 years. The royal court was moved to the place of today's Community hall and back to the Prague castle it came only in 1483 under Wladislaus from the Jagiellonian dynasty.
Although the ruler already in 1490 moved to Ofen (Buda), he had the Prague castle renovated in the late Gothic style under the supervision of Benedikt Ried. He was the master builder of the magnificent Vladislav Hall, the largest secular vaulted room of the then Europe, with which the first Renaissance signs came to Prague. He carried out major construction works, including the construction of a new masonry, the defensive towers and the expansion of the Royal Palace. At his time, the Gothic died away and a new architectural style, the Renaissance, gradually prevailed.
The direct influence of the Italian art on the new style was most frequently observed in Prague under the reign of Ferdinand I (von Habsburg) and after his departure from Prague under the influence of the governor Ferdinand of Tyrol. At that time, the medieval castle was converted into a comfortable Renaissance castle with gardens. The typical Italian architecture of the Royal Pleasure palace arose in the northern King's garden.
For a large building activity in 1541 contributed a fire devastating the castle objects as well as the surrounding area quite a lot. Within the framework of the restoration, both the housing estates and the church buildings were rebuilt. Under the reign of the first Habsburgs, nobility palaces were added to the castle grounds (for example, the Pernstein Palace - later Lobkowicz Palace, Rosenberg Palace and others). Horse stable buildings were built in the north-west.
Under the reign of the Emperor Rudolph II (1576 - 1611), the Renaissance and Mannerism transformation of the castle, which for the second time became the center of the empire, and especially the center of European culture and science, reached its peak. On the second courtyard, new rooms were built for the collections of Rudolph - the new (now Spanish) hall and the Rudolph gallery. Also arose the connection tract between the northwestern and the southwestern part of the castle. Just here the famous Kunstkammer (Art chamber) and other rooms for Rudolph's collective activities were located. Additionally further horse stable properties were built for his rare Spanish horses. During the Rudolph times also the foundation stone of the famous Golden Alley was laid. Laboratories of the Rudolph-Alchymists were supposed to have been in the Powder tower above the Hirschgraben (Deer's ditch). The castle suffered again considerable damages when it was occupied by the Saxon army in 1631 and by the Swedes in 1648 not only was occupied but also plundered. After the Thirty Years' War, the Habsburgs did not care too much about the Prague royal seat.
Only Maria Theresia carried out an extensive reconstruction of the Prague Castle from 1755 - 1775 into a representative castle complex. The reason for the massive construction action were war damages, caused by the intense bombing of the castle during war conflicts at the beginning of her reign. The reconstruction was designed by the Viennese architect Nicolo Pacassi, who also planned the first courtyard with the monumental entrance gate. From the time of the Theresian reconstruction stems also the chapel of the Holy Cross on the 2nd castle forecourt and other buildings, especially the noblewomen institute. The south wing he imprinted the uniform monumental late Baroque facade of a representative seat. His plans influenced by Viennese Rococo and French Classicism the builders Anselmo Lurago, Anton Kunz and Anton Haffenecker brought into life.
In the 19th century, the castle fell into ruin, in several objects after the Josephine reforms the army settled. In connection with the stay of Ferdinand I the Good in the castle after his abdication in 1848 and further in connection with the preparation for the coronation of Franz Joseph I in the sixties it came to building modifications of several objects. After 1859, when the community for the completion of St Veit cathedral emerged, began first the repair, and then, under the influence of the architect Joseph Mocker, the work on the actual completion of St Veit's cathedral was started, completed in 1929.
In the years 1920 - 35, carried out extensive regulations of the Prague Castle as the seat of the Czechoslovak President the great Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik, who masterfully combined the valuable historical space with modern civilization claims. His modifications mainly concerned the 1st and 3rd court, the southern gardens of the castle, the fourth forecourt with the Bastion garden as well as numerous interiors. He created e.g. the pillared hall, private rooms of the presidential residence, including the Masaryk workroom. His pupil, Otto Rothmayer, brought to an end the incomplete solutions of some castle interior spaces after the Second World War in comparable quality.
In 1936, Pavel Janák and after him, in 1959, Jaroslav Fragner became castle architect.
After the year of change of 1989, the Prague Castle was opened to the public in many places. During the term of President Havel, at the castle it came to modulations of the interiors and to the expansion of two new entrances into the second courtyard after the project of the creator and designer Bořek Šípek. The puncture through the rampart of the Powder bridge in Hirschgraben was rewarded with a significant prize (Arch. Josef Pleskot). Also interesting is the modern greenhouse of the world-famous architect Eva Jiřičná. The Georgian Square (Jiřské náměstí) was re-paved and modulated. The Mosaic of the Last Judgment was renovated in collaboration with the specialists from the Getti Institute. In 1990, the Prague Castle was solemnly illuminated and this situation lasts from dusk to midnight until today. In the main tourist season, the lighting time even lasts an hour longer until 1 o'clock. The tradition of electric lighting, but on a much smaller scale, began in 1928, when the lamps were installed for the 10th anniversary of the elevation to a Republic. A little bit the present daylight resembles of those from the end of the sixties, but today it is much more detailed and in communist times it was only switched on at solemn occasions. At that time, illuminative days were state holidays or significant day of republic, which, however, did not lack recognition from the communist point of view.
In recent years the reconstruction and renovation work has been developed in many buildings of the castle and a considerable attention has been devoted to the archaeological investigation, which has been going on since 1925 and has brought many insights into the history of the castle. The investigation as well as the renovation of the individual rooms and objects is motivated by the idea of invigorating them as much as possible by making them accessible to the public.
Prager Burg (Pražský hrad)
Die Prager Burg ist seit über tausend Jahren ein bedeutendes Symbol des tschechischen Staates. Gegründet im 9. Jahrhundert wurde sie zum ständigen Sitz der tschechischen Herrscher und zuletzt auch der Präsidenten. Einer der größten Burgkomplexe weltweit setzt sich aus Palästen, Amts-, Kirchen- und Fortifikationsgebäuden, aus Gärten und malerischen Ecken zusammen. Die Burg erstreckt sich auf einer Fläche von 45 Hektar. Der alleinige Blick auf die Prager Burg stellt einen der überwältigendsten Panoramablicke der Welt dar.
Die Prager Burg ist das bedeutendste Volkskultur- und Historiedenkmal, sie ist das Symbol der mehr als eintausendjährigen Entwicklung des böhmischen sowie gesamttschechischen Staats. Es ist ein monumentales Symbol der Palast-, Kirchen-, Fortifikations-, Amts- und Wohngebäude, die sehr wertvolle Denkmäler darstellen, einbezogen auf alle Stilepochen. Sie erstreckt sich auf einer Fläche von 45 ha, war der Sitz der böhmischen Fürsten, Könige und Kaiser und seit der Republikentstehung im Jahre 1918 war sie auch die Residenz der Präsidenten. Seit 1962 steht die Prager Burg mit ihren archäologischen Funden als bekanntester.
Geschichte
Die Anfangszeiten der Prager Burg sind mit dem ersten historisch belegten Přemysliden Bořivoj verbunden. Dieser übertrug in den 80er Jahren des 9. Jahrhunderts seinen ursprünglichen Sitz von Levý Hradec an den Ort, wo auf der erhabenen Stelle über der Moldau eine slawische Burgstätte bereits bestand und sehr gut gelegen war.
Der erste Fürstenpalast bestand offenbar aus Holz. Der erste Steinbau und das älteste christliche Heiligtum war die Jungfrau Maria Kirche. Ihre Reste wurden zwischen dem II. Vorhof und dem Basteigarten (Originalname des Gartens: Na Baště) gefunden. Diese Bořivoj-Kirche wurde durch den hier im Jahre 915 beigesetzten Fürsten Spytihněv I. bald umgebaut. Die zweite Kirche im Burgraum war die vom Fürsten Vratislaus I. gegründete St. Georg Basilika. Der nächste Přemyslide, der Fürst Wenzel (der Heilige), ließ in der Nähe in den 20er Jahren des 10. Jahrhunderts das dritte Heiligtum - die St. Veit Rotunde - bauen, die im 11. Jahrhundert vom Fürsten Spytihněv II. zu einer gewaltigen Basilika umgebaut wurde.
Im Jahre 973, als in Prag das Bistum gegründet wurde, war die Burg nicht nur der Sitz des Staatsoberhaupts, sondern auch der Sitz des Prager Bischofs, des höchsten Repräsentanten der Kirche. Zu demselben Zeitpunkt entstand an der St. Georg Basilika das erste Kloster in Böhmen.
Im 10. Jahrhundert nahm die Burg eine Fläche von ca. 6 ha in Anspruch. In der romanischen Epoche wurde die einstige Burgstätte, insbesondere nach dem Jahr 1135 dank Soběslaus I., als der steinige Fürstenpalast und das neue mit einigen Türmen verstärkte Mauerwerk aufgebaut wurden, zu einer festen mittelalterlichen Burg umgebaut. Von den Türmen ist der östliche Schwarzturm am besten erhalten.
Sehr bedeutend griff ins Aussehen der Prager Burg die Gotikzeit ein, insbesondere Karl IV. (1346 - 1378), der mit seinem Vater Johann von Luxemburg (1310 - 1346) vom Papst die Beförderung des Prager Bistums zum Erzbistum erwirkte und den Grundstein für den Bau der St. Veit Kathedrale legte. Unter Karl IV. wurde die Burg zum ersten Mal zur Kaiserlichen Residenz. Karl IV. ließ die Verschanzung der Prager Burg festigen, den Königspalast mit der Kapelle Aller Heiligen baute er großzügig um. Die Dächer ließ er mit vergoldeten Blechen decken, die das Fundament für die Wörterbindung „Goldenes Prag“ darstellten. Seit 1382 hörten böhmische Herrscher auf, die Prager Burg für mehr als 100 Jahre zu bewohnen. Der Königshof wurde an den Ort des heutigen Gemeindehauses umgezogen und zurück auf die Prager Burg kehrte er erst im Jahre 1483 unter Wladislaus aus der Jagiellonen-Dynastie.
Obwohl der Herrscher bereits 1490 nach Ofen (Buda) umsiedelte, ließ er die Prager Burg im spätgotischen Stil unter der Bauleitung von Benedikt Ried umbauen. Er war der Baumeister des großartigen Wladislaus-Saals, des größten weltlichen gewölbten Raums des damaligen Europas, mit dem die ersten Renaissancezeichen nach Prag kamen. Er führte großartige Bauregelungen einschließlich des Ausbaus eines neuen Mauerwerks, der Wehrtürme und der Erweiterung des Königspalastes durch. Zu seiner Zeit klang die Gotik aus und es setzte sich allmählich ein neuer Baustil durch, die Renaissance.
Der direkte Einfluss der italienischen Kunst des neuen Stils wurde in Prag unter der Regierung von Ferdinand I. (von Habsburg) und nach seinem Weggang von Prag unter der Wirkung des Statthalters Ferdinand von Tirol am meisten beobachtet. Damals wurde die mittelalterliche Burg in ein bequemes Renaissanceschloss mit Gärten umgewandelt. Im nördlichen Königsgarten entstand die typisch italienische Architektur des Königlichen Lustschlosses.
Zu einer großen Bauaktivität trug im Jahre 1541 ein Brand bei, der die Burgobjekte sowie die Umgebung ziemlich viel kaputt machte. Im Rahmen der Wiederherstellung wurden sowohl die Wohnräume als auch die Kirchenobjekte umgebaut. Unter der Regierung der ersten Habsburger kamen ins Burggelände auch Adelspaläste dazu (zum Beispiel der Pernstein-Palast - später Lobkowicz-Palast, Rosenberg-Palast und weitere). Im Nordwesten wurden Pferdestallgebäude erbaut.
Unter der Regierung des Kaisers Rudolph II. (1576 - 1611) erreichte der Renaissance- und Manierismusumbau der Burg, die zum zweiten Mal zum Zentrum des Reiches und insbesondere zum Zentrum der europäischen Kultur und Wissenschaft wurde, seinen Gipfel. Auf dem II. Vorhof wurden neue Räume für die Sammlungen Rudolphs erbaut - der Neue (heute Spanische) Saal und die Rudolph-Galerie. Es entstand auch der Verbindungstrakt zwischen dem Nordwest- und dem Südwestteil der Burg. Eben hier befanden sich die berühmte Kunstkammer und weitere Räume für die Sammeltätigkeit Rudolphs. Es wurden auch weitere Pferdestallobjekte für seine seltenen spanischen Pferde aufgebaut. Während der Rudolph-Zeiten wurde auch der Grundstein der berühmten Goldenen Gasse gelegt. Laboratorien der Rudolph-Alchymisten sollen im Pulverturm über dem Hirschgraben gewesen sein. Die Burg erlitt erneut erhebliche Schäden, als sie 1631 vom sächsischen Heer und 1648 von den Schweden besetzt und ausgeplündert wurde. Nach dem Dreißigjährigen Krieg kümmerten sich die Habsburger um den Prager königlichen Sitz nicht allzu sehr.
Erst Maria Theresia führte in den Jahren 1755 - 1775 einen umfangreichen Umbau der Prager Burg zu einem repräsentativen Schlosskomplex durch. Der Grund für die massive Bauaktion waren Kriegsschäden, verursacht durch die intensive Bombardierung der Burg bei Kriegskonflikten zu Beginn ihrer Regierung. Den Umbau entwarf der Wiener Architekt Nicolo Pacassi, der auch den I. Vorhof mit dem monumentalen Eingangstor projektierte. Aus der Zeit des theresianischen Umbaus stammt auch die Kapelle des Heiligen Kreuzes auf dem II. Burgvorhof und weitere Gebäude, insbesondere die Edeldamenanstalt. Dem Südflügel prägte er die einheitliche monumentale Spätbarockfassade eines Repräsentationssitzes ein. Seine durch das Wiener Rokoko und den französischen Klassizismus beeinflussten Pläne brachten die Baumeister Anselmo Lurago, Anton Kunz und Anton Haffenecker zustande.
Im 19. Jahrhundert verfiel die Burg, in mehreren Objekten ließ sich nach den josephinischen Reformen das Heer nieder. Zu Bauregelungen einiger Objekte kam es im Zusammenhang mit dem Aufenthalt von Ferdinand I. dem Guten auf der Burg nach seiner Abdikation im Jahre 1848 und weiter im Zusammenhang mit der Vorbereitung auf die vorgesehene Krönung von Franz Joseph I. in den 60er Jahren. Nach 1859, als die Gemeinde für die Fertigstellung der St. Veit Kathedrale entstand, begann zuerst die Reparatur und anschließend unter der Wirkung des Architekten Joseph Mocker wurde die Arbeit an der eigentlichen Fertigstellung der St. Veit Kathedrale aufgenommen, abgeschlossen im Jahre 1929.
In den Jahren 1920 - 35 führte ausgedehnte Regelungen der Prager Burg als des Sitzes des tschechoslowakischen Präsidenten der bedeutende slowenische Architekt Josip Plečnik durch, der den wertvollen historischen Raum mit modernen Zivilisationsansprüchen meisterlich zusammenfügte. Seine Regelungen betrafen vor allem den 1. und 3. Vorhof, die Südgärten der Burg, den 4. Vorhof mit dem Basteigarten sowie zahlreiche Innenräume. Er schuf z.B. die Säulenhalle, Privaträume der Präsidentenwohnung einschließlich des Arbeitszimmers Masaryks. Sein Schüler Otto Rothmayer brachte die unvollendeten Lösungen einiger Burginnenräume nach dem 2. Weltkrieg in vergleichbarer Qualität zu Ende.
Im Jahre 1936 ist Pavel Janák und nach ihm seit 1959 Jaroslav Fragner Burgarchitekt geworden.
Nach dem Wendejahr 1989 wurde die Prager Burg an vielen Stellen für die Öffentlichkeit geöffnet. Während der Amtszeit des Präsidenten Havel kam es auf der Burg zu Regelungen der Innenräume und zum Ausbau zweier neuer Eingänge in den 2. Vorhof nach dem Projekt des Bildners und Designers Bořek Šípek. Mit einem bedeutenden Preis wurde der Durchstich durch den Wall der Pulverbrücke im Hirschgraben belohnt (Arch. Josef Pleskot). Interessant ist auch das moderne Gewächshaus der weltberühmten Architektin Eva Jiřičná. Der Georg-Platz (Jiřské náměstí) wurde neu bepflastert und geregelt. In Zusammenarbeit mit den Fachleuten aus dem Getti-Institut wurde die Mosaik „des Letzten Gerichts“ renoviert. Im Jahre 1990 wurde die Prager Burg feierlich beleuchtet und dieser Zustand dauert von der Dämmerung bis zur Mitternacht bis heute. In der touristischen Hauptsaison dauert die Beleuchtungszeit sogar eine Stunde länger, bis 1 Uhr. Die Tradition der elektrischen Beleuchtung, jedoch im viel kleineren Umfang, begann im Jahre 1928, als die Lampen zum 10. Jubiläum der Republikentstehung installiert wurden. Ein wenig ähnelte die heutige feierliche Beleuchtung jener aus dem Ende der 60er Jahren, heute ist sie allerdings viel detaillierter und in den Kommunistenzeiten wurde sie nur bei feierlichen Gelegenheiten angemacht. Beleuchtungswürdige Tage waren damals Staatsfeiertage oder bedeutende Republiktage, denen allerdings aus der kommunistischen Sicht die Anerkennung nicht fehlte.
In den letzten Jahren entwickelte sich die Umbau- bzw. Renovierungstätigkeit in vielen Objekten der Burg und eine erhebliche Aufmerksamkeit wurde der archäologischen Untersuchung gewidmet, die bereits seit 1925 läuft und viele Erkenntnisse über die Burggeschichte brachte. Die Untersuchung sowie die Renovierung der einzelnen Räume und Objekte ist von der Idee motiviert, sie dadurch, dass sie der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich gemacht werden, möglichst viel zu beleben.
Riese (German giant) - the name of the largest mining and construction project of
Nazis, started and unfinished in the Owl Mountains (Góry Sowie, Poland), and below the castle of Książ, in 1943-1945.
Riese (niem. olbrzym) – kryptonim największego projektu górniczo-budowlanego hitlerowskich Niemiec, rozpoczętego i niedokończonego w Górach Sowich, oraz
pod zamkiem Książ, w latach 1943-1945.
Fot. Mariusz Cieszewski
Statement of Significance
Last updated on - March 6, 2000
What is significant?
The North West Hospital, Parkville Campus (formerly Mount Royal Hospital) consists of a complex of buildings constructed and modified over a long period of time, the earliest being from 1874-75. Privately leased from 1863, the land was assumed in the 1870s by the government to build a training school and benevolent home for homeless children. The nucleus of the building at Royal Park was erected in 1874-75 by Pearson and Downie for the Public Works Department. The first building was used as a girls' industrial school until a change of government policy in 1880 abandoned the concept in favour of the 'boarding out' of homeless children. After temporary use as a boys' industrial school the building was left vacant in 1881-82. In 1882 the former Industrial School became the new home for male 'Houseless and Destitute Persons' under the aegis of the Immigrants' Aid Society, and within two years was recognised as also serving a hospital function for the aged. In 1902 the name changed and again in 1932 the institution's name was changed, to the 'Victorian Benevolent Home and Hospital for the Aged and the Infirm'. A substantial building programme over thirteen years from 1926 was evidence of that change of status. Echoing the two-storey courtyard effect of the original building was the Women's Division Building (1936). The Nurses' Home (1926, extended 1938-39) was also designed on a scale commensurate with the 1874-75 building. Extensive landscaping works at that time were designed to give unity and dignity to the complex. Further additions and alterations, many in an ad-hoc fashion, have been made since that time.
How is it significant?
The North West Hospital, Parkville Campus (formerly Mount Royal Hospital) is of social, historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The North West Hospital, Parkville Campus (formerly Mount Royal Hospital) is of social and historical importance for its origins on part of the site of a former Model Farm; and for its tangible associations with several institutions of great significance in the history of social welfare in Victoria. It is the direct successor to a unique and invaluable institution in colonial society, the Immigrants' Aid Society. The Society gave shelter and support to many indigent and unfortunate new arrivals in Victoria at the time of the gold rushes and then evolved into a foremost charitable institution taking responsibility for the aged. The Hospital has been intimately and continuously involved with the development of aged care and rehabilitation at this site since 1882 to the present day. The site is also of significance for its association with the Industrial School (one of only three built in Victoria. The major buildings and landscaping of the Hospital reflect not only the evolution of the institution itself but also the changing approaches to care of the aged and infirm. The place itself is of historic interest for its association with a Model Farm which once existed on site. 142 acres were excised from the Royal Park reserve by the Victorian government in 1858 to establish a place to demonstrate and test farming methods. There is no certain evidence of any landscape or structural features remaining from that time.
The North West Hospital, Parkville Campus (formerly Mount Royal Hospital) is of architectural importance for the 1874-75 buildings, particularly the fine internal courtyard. It is an important reflection of government policy towards dealing with the problem of homeless children in that era. A detail of special note is the rare wrought iron lattice work used in the arches of the upper walkway. Of associated importance is the complex of major buildings, notably the Women's Division, the Nurses' Homes and the Ambrose Pratt Memorial Chapel which illustrate the changing use of the site from 'Industrial School' to 'Home of the Aged' to a specialist geriatric hospital. Of interest are two timber pavilions of uncertain provenance situated in the garden, one of which was used as a receiving office for inmates during the 1930s, while the other may have been a cabmen's shelter moved to the hospital for use as a shed or shelter.
- See more at: vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/899#sthash.pHE2aecj...
Victory Park, also known as the Victory Park Memorial Complex is a park located in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. It was planned in honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The project was announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in a holiday address on Victory Day in 2019. When describing the park, he said that it will be the "practical embodiment of our admiration for the people's feat in that cruel war." It was also conceived during a visit by Russian president Vladimir Putin to Tashkent in October 2018. The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Culture and the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan worked on the creation of the park as a joint project. The park was officially opened on 9 May 2020 with full military honors.
Buildings such as a "Museum of Glory" were erected on the park's territory while designs such as an entrance arch were being installed. Historical memorabilia such as emblems, war flags and maps were added to the architectural ensemble of the park.
The Ode to Fortitude monument was erected in memory of Zulfiya Zakirova, an Uzbek mother who lost five sons during the war. The monument is located in the center of the park.
The Museum of Glory (Uzbek: «Шон-шараф» музейи) or Shon-Sharaf State Museum in the park is erected in the form of a man-made mound, inside which is located the main pavilion of the park is an exhibition dedicated to the history of Uzbekistan's participation in World War II. The museum consists of six departments. All accompanying information about the exhibits is presented in Uzbek, Russian and English. The museum has more than 12.5 thousand artifacts. Separate sections dedicated to ministries and departments within the Armed Forces are organized. It is part of the Victory Park Memorial Complex, the head of which is an advisor to the Minister of Defense for Culture.
In September 2020, a resolution of the President "On measures to organize the activities of the Victory Park Memorial Complex" was adopted, according to which, the activities of the Victory Park Memorial Complex are organized under the Ministry of Defense. With this being the case, the complex is classified as a state institution and a legal entity. As such, it has its own development fund. The head of the complex considered to be a special advisor to the Minister of Defense is appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Defense in agreement with the Minister of Culture.
The Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment, the Department of Information and Mass Communications, the Military Band Service and the Central Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces are located on the territory of the Complex.
The Qutb complex (Hindi: क़ुतुब, Urdu: قطب), also spelled Qutab or Qutub, is an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India. The best-known structure in the complex is the Qutb Minar, built to honor the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Its foundation was laid by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who later became the first Sultan of Delhi of the Mamluk dynasty. After the death of the viceroy, the Minar was added upon by his successor Iltutmish (a.k.a. Altamash) and much later by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Tughlaq dynasty Sultan of Delhi in 1368 AD. the construction of the Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque or Dome of Islam [later corrupted into Quwwat-ul Islam] next to the Qutb Minar, in the Qutb complex, built on the ruins of Lal Kot Fort built by Tomar Rajput ruler, Anangpal in 739 CE and Qila-Rai-Pithora, Prithviraj Chauhan's city, the Rajput king, whom Ghori's Afghan armies had earlier defeated and killed, at the Second Battle of Tarain.
The complex was added to by many subsequent rulers, including Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Ala ud din Khilji as well as the British. Other structures in the complex are the Qutb Minar, the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, the Alai Gate, the Alai Minar, the Iron pillar, and the tombs of Iltutmish, Alauddin Khilji and Imam Zamin, surrounded by Jain temple ruins.
Today, the adjoining area spread over with a host of old monuments, including Balban's tomb, has been developed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, and INTACH has restored some 40 monuments in the Park. It is also the venue of the annual 'Qutub Festival', held in November–December, where artists, musicians and dancers perform over three days. The Qutb Minar complex, with 3.9 million visitors, was India's most visited monument in 2006, ahead of the Taj Mahal, which drew about 2.5 million visitors.
ALAI DARWAZA
The Alai Darwaza is the main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was built by the second Khilji Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD, who also added a court to the pillared to the eastern side. The domed gateway is decorated with red sandstone and inlaid white marble decorations, inscriptions in Naskh script, latticed stone screens and showcases the remarkable craftsmanship of the Turkish artisans who worked on it. This is the first building in India to employ Islamic architecture principles in its construction and ornamentation.
The Slave dynasty did not employ true Islamic architecture styles and used false domes and false arches. This makes the Alai Darwaza, the earliest example of first true arches and true domes in India. It is considered to be one of the most important buildings built in the Delhi sultanate period. With its pointed arches and spearhead of fringes, identified as lotus buds, it adds grace to the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque to which it served as an entrance.
QUTB MINAR
The Qutb Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world, inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, it is an important example of early Afghan architecture, which later evolved into Indo-Islamic Architecture. The Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres high, has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony carried on muqarnas corbel and tapers from a diameter 14.3 metres at the base to 2.7 metres at the top, which is 379 steps away. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with surrounding buildings and monuments.
Built as a Victory Tower, to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over the Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan, in 1192 AD, by his then viceroy, Qutbuddin Aibak, later the first Sultan of Mamluk dynasty. Its construction also marked the beginning of Muslim rule in India. Even today the Qutb remains one of the most important "Towers of Victory" in the Islamic world. Aibak however, could only build the first storey, for this reason the lower storey is replete with eulogies to Mohammed Ghori. The next three floors were added by his son-in-law and successor, Iltutmish. The minar was first struck by lightning in 1368 AD, which knocked off its top storey, after that it was replaced by the existing two floors by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a later Sultan of Delhi 1351 to 1388, and faced with white marble and sandstone enhancing the distinctive variegated look of the minar, as seen in lower three storeys. Thus the structure displays a marked variation in architectural styles from Aibak to that of Tughlaq dynasty. The inside has intricate carvings of the verses from the Quran.
The minar made with numerous superimposed flanged and cylindrical shafts in the interior, and fluted columns on the exterior, which have a 40 cm thick veneer of red and buff coloured sandstone; all surrounded by bands of intricate carving in Kufic style of Islamic calligraphy, giving the minar the appearance of bundled reeds. It stands just outside the Quwwatul mosque, and an Arabic inscription suggests that it might have been built to serve as a place for the muezzin, to call the faithfuls for namaz. Also marking a progression in era, is the appearance of inscriptions in a bold and cursive Thuluth script of calligraphy on the Qutb Minar, distinguished by strokes that thicken on the top, as compared to Kufic in earlier part of the construction.
Inscriptions also indicate further repairs by Sultan Sikander Lodi in 1503, when it was struck by lightning once again. In 1802, the cupola on the top was thrown down and the whole pillar was damaged by an earthquake. It was repaired by Major R. Smith of the Royal Engineers who restored the Qutub Minar in 1823 replacing the cupola with a Bengali-style chhatri which was later removed by Governor General, Lord Hardinge in 1848, as it looked out of place, and now stands in the outer lawns of the complex, popularly known as Smith's Folly.
After an accident involving school children, entry to the Qutub Minar is closed to public since 1981, while Qutub archaeological area remains open for public. In 2004, Seismic monitors were installed on the minar, which revealed in 2005 Delhi earthquake, no damage or substantial record of shakes. The reason for this has been cited as the use of lime mortar and rubble masonry which absorbs the tremors; it is also built on rocky soil, which further protects it during earthquakes.
QUWWAT-UL-ISLAM MOSQUE
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque(Arabic: قوة الإسلام ) (might of Islam) (also known as the Qutub Mosque or the Great Mosque of Delhi) was built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty. It was the first mosque built in Delhi after the Islamic conquest of India and the oldest surviving example of Ghurids architecture in Indian subcontinent. The construction of this Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque), started in the year 1193 AD, when Aibak was the commander of Muhammad Ghori's garrison that occupied Delhi. The Qutub Minar was built simultaneously with the mosque but appears to be a stand-alone structure, built as the 'Minar of Jami Masjid', for the muezzin to perform adhan, call for prayer, and also as a qutub, an Axis or Pole of Islam. It is reminiscent in style and design of the Adhai-din-ka Jhonpra or Ajmer mosque at Ajmer, Rajasthan, also built by Aibak during the same time, also constructed by demolishing earlier temples and a Sanskrit school, at the site.
According to a Persian inscription still on the inner eastern gateway, the mosque was built by the parts taken by destruction of twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples built previously during Tomars and Prithvi Raj Chauhan, and leaving certain parts of the temple outside the mosque proper. Historical records compiled by Muslim historian Maulana Hakim Saiyid Abdul Hai attest to the iconoclasm of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. This pattern of iconoclasm was common during his reign, although an argument goes that such iconoclasm was motivated more by politics than by religion.
However, many historians were unanimous regarding the fact that Qutb ud-Din Aibaq like many other Muslim rulers, had a pathological bigotry and distaste towards henotheistic values, and intolerance on cultures considered anathema in Islamic dogma, which had impelled him to vandalise those historic monuments.
The mosque is built on a raised and paved courtyard, measuring 43x32 m, surrounded by pillared cloisters added by Iltutmish between 1210 and 1220 AD. The stone screen between prayer hall and the courtyard, stood 16 m at its highest was added in 1196 AD, the corbelled arches had Arabic inscriptions and motifs. Entrances to the courtyard, also uses ornate mandap dome from temples, whose pillars are used extensively throughout the edifice, and in the sanctuary beyond the tall arched screens. What survives today of the sanctuary on the western side are the arched screens in between, which once led to a series of aisles with low-domed ceilings for worshippers. Expansion of the mosque continued after the death of Qutb. Qutbuddin's successor Iltutmish, extended the original prayer hall screen by three more arches. By the time of Iltutmish, the Mamluk empire had stabilised enough that the Sultan could replace most of his conscripted Hindu masons with Muslims. This explains why the arches added under Iltutmish are stylistically more Islamic than the ones erected under Qutb's rule, also because the material used wasn't from demolished temples. Some additions to the mosque were also done by Alauddin Khilji, including the Alai Darwaza, the formal entrance to the mosque in red sandstone and white marble, and a court to the east of the mosque in 1300 AD.
The mosque is in ruins today but indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs, and geometric patterns can be seen among the Islamic architectural structures. To the west of the Quwwat ul-Islam mosque is the tomb of Iltutmish which was built by the monarch in 1235.
IRON PILLAR
The iron pillar is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, 7.21-metre high and weighing more than six tonnes, was originally erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375–414 AD) in front of a Vishnu Temple complex at Udayagiri around 402 AD, and later shifted by Anangpal in 10th century CE from Udaygiri to its present location. Anangpal built a Vishnu Temple here and wanted this pillar to be a part of that temple.
The estimated weight of the decorative bell of the pillar is 646 kg while the main body weighs 5865 kg, thus making the entire pillar weigh 6511 kg. The pillar bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script dating 4th century AD, which indicates that the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja, standard of god, on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra, believed to Chandragupta II. A deep socket on the top of this ornate capital suggests that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it, as common in such flagpoles.
TOMS
IOMB OF ILTUTMISH
The tomb of the Delhi Sultanate ruler, Iltutmish, the second Sultan of Delhi (r. 1211–1236 AD), built 1235 CE, is also part of the Qutb Minar Complex in Mehrauli, New Delhi. The central chamber is a 9 mt. sq. and has squinches, suggesting the existence of a dome, which has since collapsed. The main cenotaph, in white marble, is placed on a raised platform in the centre of the chamber. The facade is known for its ornate carving, both at the entrance and the interior walls. The interior west wall has a prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with marble, and a rich amalgamation of Hindu motives into Islamic architecture, such as bell-and-chain, tassel, lotus, diamond emblems.
In 1914, during excavations by Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) Gordon Sanderson, the grave chamber was discovered. From the north of the tomb 20 steps lead down to the actual burial vault.
ALA-UD-DIN KHILJI´S TOMB AND MADRASA
At the back of the complex, southwest of the mosque, stands an L-shaped construction, consisting of Alauddin Khilji's tomb dating ca 1316 AD, and a madrasa, an Islamic seminary built by him. Khilji was the second Sultan of Delhi from Khilji dynasty, who ruled from 1296 to 1316 AD.
The central room of the building, which has his tomb, has now lost its dome, though many rooms of the seminary or college are intact, and since been restored. There were two small chambers connected to the tomb by passages on either side. Fergusson in his book suggested the existence, to the west of the tomb, of seven rooms, two of which had domes and windows. The remains of the tomb building suggest that there was an open courtyard on the south and west sides of the tomb building, and that one room in the north served as an entrance.
It was the first example in India, of a tomb standing alongside a madarsa. Nearby stands the Alai Minar, an ambitious tower, he started constructing to rival the Qutub Minar, though he died when only its first storey was built and its construction abandoned thereafter. It now stands, north of the mosque.
The tomb is in a very dilapidated condition. It is believed that Ala-ud-din's body was brought to the complex from Siri and buried in front of the mosque, which formed part of the madrasa adjoining the tomb. Firoz Shah Tughluq, who undertook repairs of the tomb complex, mentioned a mosque within the madrasa.
ALAI MINAR
Alauddin Khilji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 24.5-metre-high first-story core; soon after death of Ala-ud-din in 1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khilji dynasty. The first story of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonry core, still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also constructing another minar.
OTHER MONUMENTS
A short distance west of the enclosure, in Mehrauli village, is the Tomb of Adham Khan who, according to legend drove the beautiful Hindu singer Roopmati to suicide following the capture of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh. When Akbar became displeased with him he ended up being heaved off a terrace in the Agra Fort. Several archaeological monuments dot the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, including the Balban's tomb, Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb.
There are some summer palaces in the area: the Zafar Mahal, the Jahaz Mahal next to Hauz-i-Shamsi lake, and the tombs of the later Mughal kings of Delhi, inside a royal enclosure near the dargah shrine of Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Here an empty space between two of the tombs, sargah, was intended for the last king of Delhi, who died in exile in Rangoon, Burma, in 1862, following his implication in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Also standing nearby is the Moti Masjid mosque in white marble.The ruins of the alai minar are currently in the qutb complex.
WIKIPEDIA
February 14, 2017: Action from the DCSAA Indoor Track and Field Championships being held at P.G. Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville, Md. Photo credit: © Cory Royster / Cory F. Royster Photography
Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad; [ˈpraʃskiː ˈɦrat]) is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, dating from the 9th century. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world,[1][2] occupying an area of almost 70,000 square metres (750,000 square feet), at about 570 metres (1,870 feet) in length and an average of about 130 metres (430 feet) wide. The castle is among the most visited tourist attractions in Prague attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.[3]
History
Přemyslid fort
The history of the castle began in 870 when its first walled building, the Church of the Virgin Mary, was built. The Basilica of Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded under the reign of Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia and his son St. Wenceslas in the first half of the 10th century.
The first convent in Bohemia was founded in the castle, next to the church of St. George. A Romanesque palace was erected here during the 12th century.
Medieval castle
King Ottokar II of Bohemia improved fortifications and rebuilt the royal palace for the purposes of representation and housing. In the 14th century, under the reign of Charles IV the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the castle fortifications were strengthened. In place of rotunda and basilica of St. Vitus began building of a vast Gothic church, that were completed almost six centuries later.
During the Hussite Wars and the following decades, the castle was not inhabited. In 1485, King Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace. New defence towers were also built on the north side of the castle.
A large fire in 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. Under the Habsburgs, some new buildings in Renaissance style were added. Ferdinand I built the Belvedere as a summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II used Prague Castle as his main residence. He founded the northern wing of the palace, with the Spanish Hall, where his precious art collections were exhibited.
The Second Defenestration of Prague in 1618 took place at the castle and began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars, the Castle was damaged and dilapidated. Many works from the collection of Rudolph II were looted by Swedes in 1648, in the Battle of Prague (1648) which was the final act of the Thirty Years' War.
The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Empress Maria Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. Following his abdication in 1848, and the succession of his nephew, Franz Joseph, to the throne, the former emperor, Ferdinand I, made Prague Castle his home.
Presidential residence
In 1918, the castle became the seat of the president of the new Czechoslovak Republic, T.G. Masaryk. The New Royal Palace and the gardens were renovated by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. In this period the St Vitus Cathedral was finished (on September 28, 1929). Renovations continued in 1936 under Plečnik's successor Pavel Janák.
On March 15, 1939, shortly after the Nazi Germany forced Czech President Emil Hacha (who suffered a heart attack during the negotiations) to hand his nation over to the Germans, Adolf Hitler spent a night in the Prague Castle, "proudly surveying his new possession."[4] During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II, Prague Castle became the headquarters of Reinhard Heydrich, the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. According to a popular rumor, he is said to have placed the Bohemian crown on his head; old legends say a usurper who places the crown on his head is doomed to die within a year.[5] Less than a year after assuming power, on May 27, 1942, Heydrich was attacked during Operation Anthropoid, by British-trained Slovak and Czech soldiers while on his way to the Castle, and died of his wounds - which became infected - a week later.[6] Klaus, his firstborn son, died the next year in a traffic accident, also in line with the legend.[7]
After the liberation of Czechoslovakia and the coup in 1948, the Castle housed the offices of the communist Czechoslovak government. After Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the castle became the seat of the Head of State of the new Czech Republic. Similar to what Masaryk did with Plečnik, president Václav Havel commissioned Bořek Šípek to be the architect of post-communism Prague Castle's necessary improvements, in particular of the facelift of the castle's gallery of paintings.
Architectural styles of Prague Castle
Main nave of the cathedral
The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. Prague Castle includes Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers. Most of the castle areas are open to tourists. The castle houses several museums, including the National Gallery collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerism art, exhibition dedicated to Czech history, Toy Museum and the picture gallery of Prague Castle, based on the collection of Rudolph II. The Summer Shakespeare Festival regularly takes place in the courtyard of Burgrave Palace.
The neighborhood around Prague Castle is called Hradčany.
Churches
New Provost Residence
•Katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha (St. Vitus Cathedral)
•Bazilika svatého Jiří (St. George's Basilica, Prague) and Klášter svatého Jiří (St. George's Convent, Prague), it is the oldest surviving church building within Prague Castle.
•Chrám Všech svatých (All Saints Church)
•Kaple svatého Kříže (Holy Cross Chapel (cs))
Palaces
•Starý královský palác (Old Royal Palace)
•Letohrádek královny Anny (Belvedere (Prague) (cs))
•Lobkovický palác (Lobkowicz Palace, not to be confused with the German embassy in Malá Strana)
•Nový královský palác (New Royal Palace (Prague) (cs))
Halls
•Sloupová síň (Column Hall (cs))
•Španělský sál (Spanish Hall)
•Rudolfova galerie (Rudolph's Gallery (cs))
•Rothmayerův sál (Rothmayer's Hall (cs))
•Vladislavský sál (Vladislav Hall)
Towers
•Bílá věž (White Tower (Prague Castle) (cs))
•Černá věž (Black Tower (Prague Castle) (cs))
•Daliborka (Dalibor Tower (cs))
•Prašná věž or Mihulka (Mihulka (cs))
Other buildings
•Zlatá ulička (Golden Lane)
•Staré purkrabství (Old Supreme Burgrave's House (cs) )
•Míčovna (Ball Game Hall (cs))
•Jízdárna Pražského hradu (Riding School (cs))
•Staré proboštství (Old Provost Residence (cs) )
•Nové proboštství (New Provost Residence (cs))
Gardens
Královská zahrada (Royal Garden of Prague Castle)
oOranžérie (Orangery (cs))
•Zahrada na terase Jízdárny (Riding School Terrace Garden (cs))
•Zahrada Na Baště (The Garden on the Bastion)
•Jižní zahrady (South Gardens)
oRajská zahrada (Paradise Garden (cs))
oZahrada Na Valech (Garden on the Ramparts (cs))
oHartigovská zahrada (The Hartig Garden (cs))
•Jelení příkop (Deer Moat (cs))
•Svatováclavská vinice (St. Wenceslas vineyard (cs))
•Produkční zahrady Pražského hradu (Horticultural Gardens (cs))
Structures
•Kohlova kašna (Kohl's Fountain)
•Matyášova brána (Matthias Gate)
•Obelisk (Obelisk)
•Socha svatého Jiří (Statue of Saint George)
In popular culture
Prague Castle is the location in the second level of Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb video game.
It is also mentioned in the video game Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag as a hidden file found in a hacked computer at Abstergo Entertainment.
Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.
Check out my travelblog at www.175days.no
I find these pods fascinating. They shed their beautiful exterior to reveal a skeletal structure with another kind of beauty.
Density on field - TWDC - Designing connected places Summer School - Complexity Maps
Turin-Pollenzo 21-29 August
City Palace, Udaipur, is a palace complex in Udaipur, in the Indian state Rajasthan. It was built over a period of nearly 400 years being contributed by several kings of the dynasty, starting by the Maharana Udai Singh as the capital of the Sisodia Rajput clan in 1559, after he moved from Chittor. It is located on the east bank of the Lake Pichola and has several palaces built within its complex. Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in the Rajputana Agency and its last capital.
The City Palace in Udaipur was built in a flamboyant style and is considered the largest of its type in Rajasthan, a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, and was built on a hill top that gives a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding, including several historic monuments such as the Lake Palace in Lake Pichola, the Jag Mandir on another island in the lake, the Jagdish Temple close to the palace, the Monsoon Palace on top of an overlooking hillock nearby and the Neemach Mata temple. These structures are linked to the filming of the James Bond movie Octopussy, which features the Lake Palace and the Monsoon Palace. The subsequent publicity has resulted in the epithet of Udaipur as "Venice of the East". In 2009, Udaipur was rated the top city in the World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure.
HISTORY
The city Palace was built concurrently with establishment of the Udaipur city by Maharana Udai Singh, in 1559 and his successor Maharanas over a period of the next 300 years. It is considered the largest royal complex in Rajasthan and is replete with history. Founding of the city and building of the palace complex can not be looked in isolation as the Maharanas lived and administered their kingdom from this palace.
Prior to moving their capital from Udaipur to Chittor≤≥, the Mewar kingdom had flourished initially in Nagda (30 kilometres to the north of Udaipur), established in 568 AD by Guhil, the first Mewar Maharana. In the 8th century, the capital was moved to Chittor, a hill top fort from where the Sisodias ruled for 80 years. Maharana Udai Singh II inherited the Mewar kingdom at Chittor in 1537 but by that time there were signs of losing control of the fort in wars with the Mughals. Udai Singh II, therefore, chose the site near Lake Pichola for his new kingdom because the location was well protected on all sides by forests, lakes and the Aravalli hills. He had chosen this site for his new capital, much before the sacking of Chittor by Emperor Akbar, on the advice of a hermit he had met during one of his hunting expeditions.
At his capital Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh soon faced defeat at the hands of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He soon moved to Udaipur to the chosen location to establish his new capital. The earliest royal structure he built here was the Royal courtyard or 'Rai Angan', which was the beginning of the building of the City Palace complex, at the place where the hermit had advised Maharana to build his Capital.
After Udai Singh’s death in 1572, his son Maharana Pratap took the reins of power at Udaipur. He was successful in defeating Akbar at the battle of Haldighati in 1576 and thereafter Udaipur was peaceful for quite some years. With this, prosperity of Udaipur ensued, palaces were built on the shore and in the midst of the Pichola lake. Concurrently art, particularly miniature painting, also flourished.
But in 1736, the marauding Marathas attacked Udaipur and by the end of the century the Mewar state was in dire straits and in ruins. However, the British came to Mewar’s rescue in the 19th century and soon the State of Mewar got re-established and prospered under British protection, under a treaty signed with the British. However, the British were not allowed to replace them. Once India got independence in 1947, the Mewar Kingdom, along with other princely states of Rajasthan, merged with the Democratic India, in 1949. The Mewar Kings subsequently also lost their special royal privileges and titles. However, the successor Maharanas have enjoyed the trust of their people and also retained their ownership of the palaces in Udaipur. They are now running the palaces by creating a trust, called the Mewar Trust, with the income generated from tourism and the heritage hotels that they have established in some of their palaces. With the fund so generated they are running charitable hospitals, educational institutions and promoting the cause of environmental preservation.
LEGEND
Historical legend narrated to the selection of the site for the palace is about a hermit meeting Maharana Udai Singh when he was on a hunting trail in the Udaipur hills. The Maharana met the hermit who was meditating on top of a hill above the Pichola Lake and sought the hermit’s blessings. The hermit advised the Maharana to build his palace at that very spot and that is where the palace complex came to be established at Udaipur.
GEOGRAPHY
The city palace located in Udaipur city at 24.576°N 73.68°E, which is set with an average elevation of 598 metres.
CLIMATE
The climate of Udaipur reflects the climate at the city palace. It is tropical, with the mercury recording between a maximum of 38.3 °C and a minimum of 28.8 °C during summers. Winter is cold with the maximum temperature rising to 28 °C and the minimum dipping to 11.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 64 cm.
STRUCTURES
The series of palaces packed in the city palace complex, facing east (as customarily appropriate for the Maharana dynasty – the Sun dynasty), behind an exquisite facade of 244 metres length and 30.4 metres height, were built on a ridge on the east of lake Pichola. They were built over a long period, from 1559 onwards, by 76 generations of Sisodia Rajputs or Suryavanshi Rajputs (worshippers of Sun god). Several Maharanas (the title Maharana is distinctly different from Maharajah, as the former connotes a warrior and the latter a ruler or a king) starting with Udai Mirza Singh II, have richly contributed to this edifice, which comprises an agglomeration of structures, including 11 small separate palaces. The unique aspect of this conglomeration is that the architectural design (a rich blend of Rajasthani, Mughal, Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture) is distinctly homogeneous and eye catching. The palace complex has been built entirely in granite and marble. The interiors of the palace complex with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibit delicate mirror-work, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlay-work and leftover of colored glass. The complex provides a fine view of the lake and the Udaipur city from its upper terraces.
Located with the picturesque backdrop of rugged mountains, beside the Pichola lake on its shore, the city palace complex painted in gleaming white color has been compared to the Greek islands, such as the Mykonos.
The famous structures or palaces viewed from the Lake Palace appear like a fort. They are interlinked inside the complex through a number of chowks or quadrangles with zigzag corridors (planned in this fashion to avoid surprise attacks by enemies). Erected in the complex, after entering through the main Tripolia (triple) gate, are the Suraj Gokhda (public address facade), the Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), the Dilkhush Mahal (heart’s delight), the Surya Chopar, the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of glass and mirrors), the Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls), the Krishna Vilas (named after Lord Krishna), Shambu Niwas (royal residence now), the Bhim Vilas, the Amar Vilas (with a raised garden) that faces the Badi Mahal (the big palace), the Fateprakash Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace (the latest addition to the complex); the last two have been converted into heritage hotels. Details of all these structures are elaborated. The vast collection of structures are termed to form ‘a city within a city’ set with facilities of post office, bank, travel agency, numerous craft shops and also an Indian boutique belonging to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature. The entire complex is the property of the Mewar royal family and a number of trusts take care of the running and maintenance of the structures. The earliest royal structure built in the complex was the Royal courtyard or Rai Angan.
GATEWAYS
Gateways, colloquially called Pols, are set to the east of Udaipur city that was established by Maharana Udai Singh II, concurrently with the City Palace. A number of impressive gateways provide access to the palace complex.
The main entry from the city is through the 'Bara Pol' (Great Gate), which leads to the first courtyard. Bara Pol (built in 1600) leads to the ‘Tripolia Pol', a triple arched gate built in 1725, which provides the northern entry. The road between this gate and the palace is lined with shops and kiosks owned by craftsmen, book-binders, miniature painters, textile dealers and antique shops. Between these two gates, eight marble arches or Toranas are erected. It is said that the Maharanas used to be weighed here with gold and silver, which was then distributed among the local people. Following the Tripolia gate is an arena in front of the Toran Pol and the facade palace, where elephant fights were staged in the past to test their prowess before starting on war campaigns.
The main block of the city palace at Udaipur is approached through a modest door from the Ganesha Deodhi terrace. The door is flanked by whitewashed walls vibrantly painted with martial animals in the traditional Rajput style.
AMAR VILAS
Amar Vilas is the uppermost court inside the complex, which is a raised garden. It provides entry to the Badi Mahal. It is a pleasure pavilion built in Mughal style. It has cussed arcades enclosing a square marble tub. Amar Vilas' is the highest point of the City palace and has wonderful hanging gardens with fountains, towers and terraces.
BADI MAHAL
Badi Mahal (Great Palace) also known as Garden Palace and is the exotic central garden palace that is situated on a 27 metres high natural rock formation bis-a-bis the rest of the palace. The rooms on the ground floor appear to be at the level of the fourth floor in view of the height difference to its surrounding buildings. There is a swimming pool here, which was then used for Holi festival (festival of colors) celebration. In an adjoining hall, miniature paintings of 18th and 19th centuries are displayed. In addition, wall paintings of Jag Mandir (as it appeared in the 18th century), Vishnu of Jagdish temple, the very courtyard and an elephant fight scene are depicted.
The elephant fight depicted in a painting on the wall was a representation of the real elephant fights, which used to be organized by the Maharanas. It is mentioned that the elephants used to be fed hashish (opium) before arranging the fights. An interesting observation is that the word ‘assassin’ is a derivative of the word ‘hashish’. The last such fight was reported in 1995.
BHIM VILAS
Bhim Vilas has a gallery of a remarkable collection of miniature paintings that depict the real life stories of Radha-Krishna.
CHINI CHITRASHALA
Chini Chitrashala (Chinese art place) depicts Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles.
CHOTI CHITRASHALI
Choti Chitrashali or 'Residence of Little Pictures', built in early 19th century, has pictures of peacocks.
DILKHUSHA MAHAL
Dilkhusha Mahal or ‘Palace of Joy’ was built in 1620.
DURBAR HALL
Durbar Hall was built in 1909 within the Fatepraksh Palace (now a heritage hotel) Official functions such as State banquets and meetings were held here. The gallery of the hall was used by the Royal ladies to observe the Durbar proceedings. This hall has luxuriant interior with some unusually large chandeliers. Weapons of the maharanas and also some of their unique portraits are also depicted here. The foundation stone for this hall was laid by Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India, in 1909, during the rule of Maharana Fateh Singh and was then called Minto Hall.
FATEPRAKASH PALCE
Fateprakash Palace, which is now run as a luxury hotel, has a crystal gallery that consists of crystal chairs, dressing tables, sofas, tables, chairs and beds, crockery, table fountains which were never used. There is also a unique jewel studded carpet here. Maharaja Sajjan Singh had ordered these rare items in 1877 from F& C Osler & Co of London but he died before they arrived here. It is said that the packages containing these crystals remained unopened for 110 years.
JAGDISH MANDIR
Jagdish Mandir, located 150 metres north of the city palace, was built in 1652 in Indo-Aryan architectural style. It is a large and aesthetically elegant temple where an idol of Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu made in black stone is deified in the sanctum. The temple walls and the sikhara or tower are decorated with carvings of Vishnu, scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and figurines of nymphs or apsaras. A brass image of Garuda (half-bird, half-man image, which is Lord Vishnu’s vehicle), is placed in a separate shrine in front of the temple. Flanking the steps up the temple decoration of statues of elephants are seen. The street square, where the temple is located, is also known as Jagdish Chowk from where several roads radiate in different directions.
KRISHNA VILAS
Krishna Vilas is another chamber, which has rich collection of miniature paintings that portray royal processions, festivals and games of the Maharanas. However, there is tragic story linked to this wing of the City Palace. In the 19th century, a royal princess was unable to choose from two suitors seeking her hand in marriage, one from the royal family of Jaipur and another from Jodhpur, and hence in a state of dilemma, she poisoned herself to death.
LAXMI VILAS CHOWK
Laxmi Vilas Chowk is an art gallery with a distinctive collection of Mewar paintings.
MANAK MAHAL
The Manek mahal approached from the Manak Chowk is an enclosure for formal audience for the Udaipur rulers. It has a raised alcove inlaid completely in mirror glass. Sun-face emblems, in gleaming brass, religious insignia of the Sisodia dynasty are a recurring display at several locations in the City Palace; one of these prominent emblems is depicted on the façade of the Manak Chowk, which can also be seen from the outermost court below. The largest of such an emblem is also seen on the wall of the Surya Chopar, a reception centre at the lower level. Surya or Sun emblem of the Mewar dynasty depicts a Bhil, the Sun, Chittor Fort and a Rajput with an inscription in Sanskrit of a quotation from the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy scripture), which means “God Helps those who do their duty". It was customary for the Maharanas to offer obeisance to the Sun facing east, every morning before taking breakfast.
MOR CHOK
Mor Chok or Peacock square is integral to the inner courts of the palace. The elaborate design of this chamber consists of three peacocks (representing the three seasons of summer, winter and monsoon) modeled in high relief and faced with coloured glass mosaic, built into successive niches in the wall area or jharoka, These were built during Maharana Sajjan Singh’s reign, 200 years after the palace was established. The peacocks have been crafted with 5000 pieces of glass, which shine in green, gold and blue colours. The apartments in front of the Chowk are picturesquely depicted with scenes of Hindu god Lord Krishna’s legends. At the upper level, there is a projecting balcony, which is flanked by inserts of coloured glass. In an adjoining chamber, called the Kanch-ki-Burj, mosaic of mirrors adorn the walls. The Badi Charur Chowk within this chowk is a smaller court for private use. Its screen wall has painted and inlaid compositions depicting European men and Indian women. Proceeding further from the Mor-Chowk, in the Zenana Mahal or women’s quarters exquisitely designed alcoves, balconies, colored windows, tiled walls and floors are seen.
MUSEUM
n 1974, a part of the city palace and the 'Zenana Mahal' (Ladies Chamber) were converted into a museum. The museum is open for public. There is an interesting exhibit of a freaky monkey holding a lamp and also portraits of maharajas displaying a spectacular array of mustaches. ‘Lakshmi Chowk' is an elegant white pavilion in the same precinct.
RANG BHAWAN
Rang Bhawan is the palace that used to contain royal treasure. There are temples of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai and Shiva, located here.
SHEESH MAHAL
Sheess Mahal or Palace of Mirrors and glasses was built in 1716.
A shrine of Dhuni Mata is also located in the complex. This location is considered as the oldest part of the Palace, where a sage spent his entire life meditating.
THE PALACE IN FILM & TELEVISION
The palace was used as a hotel in the 1985 James Bond film Octopussy, where Bond (played by Roger Moore) stayed as he began his quest to apprehend the villainous Kamal Khan (Louis Jordan).
A 1991 documentary film directed for television by Werner Herzog is called Jag Mandir and consists of footage of an elaborate theatrical performance for the Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar at the City Palace staged by André Heller.
The palace was used for filming part of Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (English: A Play of Bullets: Ram-Leela) 2013 directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
WIKIPEDIA
Ce vaste complexe de bâtiments résidentiels conçus par l’architecte suisse Michel Polak, sur demande du promoteur Lucien Kaisin, se situe au n° 155 de la rue de la Loi à Bruxelles. Ce projet ambitieux prévoyait 180 appartements modernes équipés des dernières technologies, répartis dans dix quartiers, avec des restaurants, un théâtre, une piscine, des salles de gymnastique, des toits en terrasse, une banque, un bureau de poste et des commerces de proximité.
Le tout était de style Art déco et luxueusement décoré, mais assez sobre, avec toutefois des vitraux de style néo-renaissance à côté d’une fontaine en mosaïques aux couleurs méditerranéennes dans le grand hall. Les façades sont plutôt classiques, sans décors superflus, des ferronneries sobres ornent portes et balcons.
Terminé en 1927, l’ensemble connaîtra le succès pendant quelques années, puis la guerre, l’occupation par l’ennemi et ensuite par les forces de libération feront subir aux bâtiments des déprédations et des transformations. L'ensemble a été racheté en 1947 par l’état belge à des fins de bureaux, tout en gardant la piscine, les grands salons et les restaurants. Puis sont venues les années européennes et la démolition d’un des quartiers pour construire les bâtiments du Conseil européen (cf. www.admirable-artdeco.be et merci pour la photo).
American wildland firefighters work on the Tambo Complex in Australia.
Credit: National Interagency Fire Center
The 'Reputation Complex' is a moving combination of various factors, components and drivers that are linked in a close and complicated way. This combination brings with it, for all organizations, equal risks and opportunities – the first to be managed and the second to be exploited in the right manner.
MSLGROUP's Chief Strategy Officer Pascal Beucler shares his thoughts on the fast transformation of reputation management and what it means for our clients and for us.
Commencement 2017 Portraits of Hook 'Em in various location around campus for senior portraits feature story
Oehler Mill Complex
Shelby, Wisconsin
Listed 5/22/2013
Reference Number: 13000314
The Oehler Mill Complex is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for its local significance under National Register (NR) Criterion C, architecture. It is significant at the local level with a period of significance of 1862-1907, dates encompassing the construction of the mill and the associated buildings of the milling complex. Research was undertaken to assess this potential utilizing the NR significance area of Architecture, a theme that is also identified in the State of Wisconsin's Cultural Resource Management Plan (CRMP). This research centered on evaluating the resources in the Complex utilizing the Italianate Style and Stone Construction subsections of the Architectural Styles study unit, and the Milling subsection of the Industry study unit portions of the CRMP. 17 The results of this research are detailed below and determined that the Complex's fine stone and brick Astylistic Utilitarian Vernacular Form flour mill building and its two fine associated brick Italianate style houses are locally significant under Criterion C, architecture. The mill is a now exceptionally rare example of an early rural flour and grist mill and its significance is heightened by the fact that the houses of Valentine Oehler and Gottfried Oehler, the two brothers who built it and ran it, are both extant and are situated on either side of it.
National Register of Historic Places Homepage
The temple, or Roman sanctuary, above Terracina dates back to the fourth century BC, though much of the development belongs to the first and second centuries BC. The complex is large and spectacularly-situated, dominating the shoreline and sea. The sanctuary has long been assumed to have been dedicated to Jupiter, although Venus has been another suggestion.
Monte Sant'Angelo, 227m high, is the end of the Monti Ausoni mountain range. Descending straight to the sea, the mountain blocked the path of the Appian Way (Via Appia), which veered north of the summit until Trajan had the rock face cut to clear a route at sea level. This commanding position on a major communications route and above a port gave the site obvious significance, and the religious complex was designed on a large scale, to incorporate a military base.
The large complex consisted of several buildings constructed over several centuries. The principal temple would have dominated the skyline, sitting on a large platform above the arcaded substructure and accessed up twelve steps. Behind this building a colonnaded portico ran along the cliffs. At a short distance a smaller temple had its own levelled rocky base, while other features included an 'oracle's cave', cisterns and military headquarters. A huge wall with nine towers protects the headland.
The most impressive remains are those of the vaulting at the base of the main temple area. A sequence of eleven arches provide a panoramic and striking cloister facing the sea, while on the landward side, the passage opens onto a 60m-long vaulted hall.
Il tempio di Giove Anxur è un tempio romano costruito su un'imponente costruzione del I secolo a.C. sul monte Sant'Angelo, sopra la città di Terracina (LT).
Il monte Sant'Angelo, noto anche come monte Giove (per i Romani mons Neptunius, 227 m s.l.m.) costituisce l'ultima propaggine dei Monti Ausoni, che giunge fino al Mar Tirreno, chiudendo a sud la pianura pontina.
Sulle sue pendici meridionali era sorto il centro ausonio di Tarracina, poi volsco con il nome di Anxur e conquistato definitivamente dai Romani alla fine del V secolo. Nel 329 a.C. la città divenne colonia romana e nel 312 a.C. il monte fu aggirato alle spalle dal tracciato della nuova via Appia, tra Roma e Capua. A quest'epoca risalgono i primi terrazzamenti in opera poligonale, per l'erezione di un primo santuario, probabilmente legato al culto oracolare e forse non comprendente un tempio.
Alla seconda metà del II secolo a.C. si deve un rifacimento con una serie di ambienti addossatti alla roccia a monte (cosiddetto "piccolo tempio").
La facciata della grande sostruzione a terrazzaIn epoca sillana, agli inizi del I secolo a.C. si data infine una monumentale ricostruzione, con una cinta muraria e un campo militare per il controllo del passaggio della via Appia e il nuovo grande tempio, edificato su una scenografica terrazza di fondazione in opera incerta, con portico retrostante.
Dopo l'epoca romana il santuario fu distrutto e incendiato e i resti furono noti in epoca medioevale con il nome di "Palazzo di Teodorico". Nell'alto Medioevo nella zona del cosiddetto "piccolo tempio" si insediò un monastero dedicato a San Michele Arcangelo, dal quale l'intero colle prese il nome attuale. In particolare un corridoio interno di sostruzione fu trasformato in chiesa, con affreschi del IX secolo. Altre strutture medioevali (resti di una torre quadrata e di mura di recinzione e tracce di frequentazione del XIII secolo) testimoniano la continuazione dell'uso militare della sommità del colle.
Fonte : Wikipedia
Manchester has seen large numbers of visitors over the past few days as the city again played host to a major political conference.
Chief Superintendent John O’Hare said: “Over the past five days Manchester City Centre has played host to the Conservative Party Conference which saw more than 12,000 delegates visit our city.
“This is a complex and challenging security and public order operation which requires a high degree of partnership activity and the highest levels of professionalism throughout.
“As is the norm, there have been elements of protest throughout the conference period - 30,000 people marched through the city on Sunday alone.
“The vast majority of people attending protests did so in the spirit of their causes, worked with us to make sure they could voice their opinions in a safe manner and with minimal disruption to others.
“On the occasions where individuals crossed the line we have taken positive action and 11 people have been arrested as a result of unacceptable behaviour over the past few days.
“Throughout this operation officers have worked tirelessly to protect delegates, facilitate the protests, and keep our city safe.
“I am proud of all our officers and staff. They have all performed their duties to the highest of standards and acted in a professional and fair manner throughout.
“I also want to thank everyone who lives in, works in or was visiting the city centre while this operation has been taking place for their patience, support and co-operation.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Ocupação policial realizada no Complexo do Alemão, no dia 20/11/2010, em represália a uma serie de atentados promovidas por traficantes que protestavam contra a implantação das UPPs (Unidade de Policia pacificadora) em favelas do Rio de Janeiro.
Parvati temple (Devanagari: पार्वती मंदिर) is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva
This structure is one of the monument among Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a World Heritage Site in India.
The temple is located in the Western Group of Temple Complex Khajuraho. Inside the temple complex, it is located south-west to Vishvanath Temple.
It has heavily restored small sanctum. The porch is completely lost and of the sanctum only the plinth has survived.
The arch above sanctum door depicts sculpture of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Also numerous erotic sculptures of couples can be seen on the front wall (on the side of sanctum door.
The side and back walls do not have any sculptures.
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The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. About 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi, they are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.
Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 20 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometers. Of the various surviving temples, the Kandariya temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.
The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions namely Hinduism and Jainism - suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains.
LOCATION
Khajuraho group of monuments are located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometres southeast of New Delhi. The temples are in a small town also known as Khajuraho, with a population of about 20,000 people (2001 Census).
Khajuraho is served by Khajuraho Airport (IATA Code: HJR), with services to Delhi, Agra and Mumbai. The site is also linked by Indian Railways service, with the railway station approximately six kilometer from the monuments entrance.
The monuments are about 10 kilometres off the east-west National Highway 75, and about 50 kilometres from the city of Chhatarpur, that is connected to Bhopal - the state capital - by the SW-NE running National Highway 86.
HISTORY
The Khajuraho group of monuments were built during the rule of Rajput Chandela dynasty. The building activity started almost immediately after the rise of their power, throughout their kingdom to be later known as Bundelkhand. Most temples were built during the reigns of the Hindu kings Yashovarman and Dhanga. Yashovarman's legacy is best exhibited by Lakshmana temple. Vishvanatha temple best highlights King Dhanga's reign.:22 The largest and currently most famous surviving temple is Kandariya Mahadeva built in the reign of King Ganda from 1017-1029 CE. The temple inscriptions suggest many of the currently surviving temples were complete between 970 to 1030 CE, with few more temples completed in decades thereafter.
The Khajuraho temples were built about 35 miles from the medieval city of Mahoba, the capital of Chandela dynasty, in Kalinjar region. In ancient and medieval literature, their kingdom has been called Jijhoti, Jejahoti, Chih-chi-to and Jejakabhukti.
Khajuraho were mentioned by Abu Rihan-al-Biruni, the Persian historian who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni in his raid of Kalinjar in 1022 CE; he mentions Khajuraho as the capital of Jajahuti. The raid was unsuccessful, and a peace accord was reached when the Hindu king agreed to pay a ransom to Mahmud of Ghazni to end the attack and leave.
Khajuraho temples were in active use through the end of 12th century. This changed in the 13th century, after the army of Delhi Sultanate, under the command of the Muslim Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak, attacked and seized the Chandela kingdom. About a century later, Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller in his memoirs about his stay in India from 1335 to 1342 CE, mentioned visiting Khajuraho temples, calling them “Kajarra” as follows:
...near (Khajuraho) temples, which contain idols that have been mutilated by the Moslems, live a number of yogis whose matted locks have grown as long as their bodies. And on account of extreme asceticism they are all yellow in colour. Many Moslems attend these men in order to take lessons (yoga) from them.
— Ibn Battuta, about 1335 CE, Riḥlat Ibn Baṭūṭah, Translated by Arthur Cotterell
Central Indian region, where Khajuraho temples are, remained in the control of many different Muslim dynasties from 13th century through the 18th century. In this period, some temples were desecrated, followed by a long period when they were left in neglect. In 1495 CE, for example, Sikandar Lodi’s campaign of temple destruction included Khajuraho. The remoteness and isolation of Khajuraho protected the Hindu and Jain temples from continued destruction by Muslims. Over the centuries, vegetation and forests overgrew, took over the temples.
In the 1830s, local Hindus guided a British surveyor, T.S. Burt, to the temples and they were thus rediscovered by the global audience. Alexander Cunningham later reported, few years after the rediscovery, that the temples were secretly in use by yogis and thousands of Hindus would arrive for pilgrimage during Shivaratri celebrated annually in February or March based on a lunar calendar. In 1852, Maisey prepared earliest drawings of the Khajuraho temples.
NOMENCLATURE
The name Khajuraho, or Kharjuravāhaka, is derived from ancient Sanskrit (kharjura, खर्जूर means date palm, and vāhaka, वाहक means "one who carries" or bearer). Local legends state that the temples had two golden date-palm trees as their gate (missing when they were rediscovered). Desai states that Kharjuravāhaka also means scorpion bearer, which is another symbolic name for deity Shiva (who wears snakes and scorpion garlands in his fierce form).
Cunningham’s nomenclature and systematic documentation work in 1850s and 1860s have been widely adopted and continue to be in use. He grouped the temples into the Western group around Lakshmana, Eastern group around Javeri, and Southern group around Duladeva.
Khajuraho is one of the four holy sites linked to deity Shiva (the other three are Kedarnath, Kashi and Gaya). Its origin and design is a subject of scholarly studies. Shobita Punja has proposed that the temple’s origin reflect the Hindu mythology in which Khajuraho is the place where Shiva got married; with Raghuvamsha verse 5.53, Matangeshvara honoring ‘’Matanga’’, or god of love.
DESCRIPTION
The temple site is within Vindhya mountain range in central India. An ancient local legend held that Hindu deity Shiva and other gods enjoyed visiting the dramatic hill formation in Kalinjar area. The center of this region is Khajuraho, set midst local hills and rivers. The temple complex reflects the ancient Hindu tradition of building temples where gods love to play.
The temples are clustered near water, another typical feature of Hindu temples. The current water bodies include Sib Sagar, Khajur Sagar (also called Ninora Tal) and Khudar Nadi (river). The local legends state that the temple complex had 64 water bodies, of which 56 have been physically identified by archeologists so far.
All temples, except one (Chaturbhuja) face sunrise - another symbolic feature that is predominant in Hindu temples. The relative layout of temples integrate masculine and feminine deities and symbols highlight the interdependence. The art work symbolically highlight the four goals of life considered necessary and proper in Hinduism - dharma, kama, artha and moksha.
Of the surviving temples, 6 are dedicated to Shiva and his consorts, 8 to Vishnu and his affinities, 1 to Ganesha, 1 to Sun god, 3 to Jain Tirthanks. For some ruins, there is insufficient evidence to assign the temple to specific deities with confidence.
An overall examination of site suggests that the Hindu symbolic mandala design principle of square and circles is present each temple plan and design. Further, the territory is laid out in three triangles that converge to form a pentagon. Scholars suggest that this reflects the Hindu symbolism for three realms or trilokinatha, and five cosmic substances or panchbhuteshvara. The temple site highlights Shiva, the one who destroys and recycles life, thereby controlling the cosmic dance of time, evolution and dissolution.
The temples have a rich display of intricately carved statues. While they are famous for their erotic sculpture, sexual themes cover less than 10% of the temple sculpture. Further, most erotic scene panels are neither prominent nor emphasized at the expense of the rest, rather they are in proportional balance with the non-sexual images. The viewer has to look closely to find them, or be directed by a guide. The arts cover numerous aspects of human life and values considered important in Hindu pantheon. Further, the images are arranged in a configuration to express central ideas of Hinduism. All three ideas from Āgamas are richly expressed in Khajuraho temples - Avyakta, Vyaktavyakta and Vyakta.
The Beejamandal temple is under excavation. It has been identified with the Vaidyanath temple mentioned in the Grahpati Kokalla inscription.
Of all temples, the Matangeshvara temple remains an active site of worship. It is another square grid temple, with a large 2.5 metres high and 1.1 metres diameter lingam, placed on a 7.6 metres diameter platform.
The most visited temple, Kandariya Mahadev, has an area of about 6,500 square feet and a shikhara (spire) that rise
s 116 feet.
Jain templesThe Jain temples are located on east-southeast region of Khajuraho monuments. Chausath jogini temple features 64 jogini, while Ghantai temple features bells sculptured on its pillars.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE TEMPLES
Khajuraho temples, like almost all Hindu temple designs, follow a grid geometrical design called vastu-purusha-mandala. This design plan has three important components - Mandala means circle, Purusha is universal essence at the core of Hindu tradition, while Vastu means the dwelling structure.
The design lays out a Hindu temple in a symmetrical, concentrically layered, self-repeating structure around the core of the temple called garbhagriya, where the abstract principle Purusha and the primary deity of the temple dwell. The shikhara, or spire, of the temple rises above the garbhagriya. This symmetry and structure in design is derived from central beliefs, myths, cardinality and mathematical principles.
The circle of mandala circumscribe the square. The square is considered divine for its perfection and as a symbolic product of knowledge and human thought, while circle is considered earthly, human and observed in everyday life (moon, sun, horizon, water drop, rainbow). Each supports the other. The square is divided into perfect 64 sub-squares called padas.
Most Khajuraho temples deploy the 8x8 padas grid Manduka Vastupurushamandala, with pitha mandala the square grid incorporated in the design of the spires. The primary deity or lingas are located in the grid’s Brahma padas.The architecture is symbolic and reflects the central Hindu beliefs through its form, structure and arrangement of its parts. The mandapas as well as the arts are arranged in the Khajuraho temples in a symmetric repeating patterns, even though each image or sculpture is distinctive in its own way. The relative placement of the images are not random but together they express ideas, just like connected words form sentences and paragraphs to compose ideas. This fractal pattern that is common in Hindu temples. Various statues and panels have inscriptions. Many of the inscriptions on the temple walls are poems with double meanings, something that the complex structure of Sanskrit allows in creative compositions. All Khajuraho temples, except one, face sunrise, and the entrance for the devotee is this east side.
Above the vastu-purusha-mandala of each temple is a superstructure with a dome called Shikhara (or Vimana, Spire). Variations in spire design come from variation in degrees turned for the squares. The temple Shikhara, in some literature, is linked to mount Kailash or Meru, the mythical abode of the gods.
In each temple, the central space typically is surrounded by an ambulatory for the pilgrim to walk around and ritually circumambulate the Purusa and the main deity. The pillars, walls and ceilings around the space, as well as outside have highly ornate carvings or images of the four just and necessary pursuits of life - kama, artha, dharma and moksa. This clockwise walk around is called pradakshina.
Larger Khajuraho temples also have pillared halls called mandapa. One near the entrance, on the east side, serves as the waiting room for pilgrims and devotees. The mandapas are also arranged by principles of symmetry, grids and mathematical precision. This use of same underlying architectural principle is common in Hindu temples found all over India. Each Khajuraho temple is distinctly carved yet also repeating the central common principles in almost all Hindu temples, one which Susan Lewandowski refers to as “an organism of repeating cells”.
CONSTRUCTION
The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions: western, eastern and southern.
The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone, with a granite foundation that is almost concealed from view. The builders didn't use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons. Some repair work in the 19th Century was done with brick and mortar; however these have aged faster than original materials and darkened with time, thereby seeming out of place.
The Khajuraho and Kalinjar region is home to superior quality of sandstone, which can be precision carved. The surviving sculpture reflect fine details such as strands of hair, manicured nails and intricate jewelry.
While recording the television show Lost Worlds (History Channel) at Khajuraho, Alex Evans recreated a stone sculpture under 4 feet that took about 60 days to carve in an attempt to develop a rough idea how much work must have been involved. Roger Hopkins and Mark Lehner also conducted experiments to quarry limestone which took 12 quarrymen 22 days to quarry about 400 tons of stone. They concluded that these temples would have required hundreds of highly trained sculptors.
CHRONOLOGY
The Khajuraho group of temples belong to Vaishnavism school of Hinduism, Saivism school of Hinduism and Jainism - nearly a third each. Archaeological studies suggest all three types of temples were under construction at about the same time in late 10th century, and in use simultaneously. Will Durant states that this aspect of Khajuraho temples illustrates the tolerance and respect for different religious viewpoints in the Hindu and Jain traditions. In each group of Khajuraho temples, there were major temples surrounded by smaller temples - a grid style that is observed to varying degrees in Hindu temples in Angkor Wat, Parambaran and South India.
The largest surviving Saiva temple is Khandarya Mahadeva, while the largest surviving Vaishnava group includes Chaturbhuja and Ramachandra.
Kandarya Mahadeva temple plan is 109 ft in length by 60 ft, and rises 116 ft above ground and 88 ft above its own floor. The central padas are surrounded by three rows of sculptured figures, with over 870 statues, most being half life size (2.5 to 3 feet). The spire is a self repeating fractal structure.
TEMPLE NAME - DEITY - YEAR COMPLETED
Chausath Yogini - Devi, 64 Yoginis - 885
Brahma - Vishnu - 925
Lalgun Mahadev - Shiva - 900
Matangeshwar - Shiva - 1000
Varaha - Vishnu - 950
Lakshmana - Vaikuntha Vishnu - 939
Parshvanath - Parshvanath - 954
Visvanatha - Shiva - 999
Devi Jagadambi - Devi, Parvati - 1023
Chitragupta - Sun, Chitragupta - 1023
Kandariya Mahadeva - Shiva - 1029
Vamana - Vamana - 1062
Adinath Jain Temple - Rishabha - 1027
Javeri - Vishnu - 1090
Chaturbhuja - Vishnu - 1110
Duladeo (Duladeva) - Shiva - 1125
Ghantai - Jain Tirthankara - 960
Vishnu-Garuda - Vishnu - 1000
Ganesha - Shiva - 1000
Hanuman - Hanuman - 922
Mahishasuramardini - Devi - 995
ARTS AND SCULPTURE
The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of art work, of which 10% is sexual or erotic art outside and inside the temples. Some of the temples that have two layers of walls have small erotic carvings on the outside of the inner wall. Some scholars suggest these to be tantric sexual practices. Other scholars state that the erotic arts are part of Hindu tradition of treating kama as an essential and proper part of human life, and its symbolic or explicit display is common in Hindu temples. James McConnachie, in his history of the Kamasutra, describes the sexual-themed Khajuraho sculptures as "the apogee of erotic art":
"Twisting, broad-hipped and high breasted nymphs display their generously contoured and bejewelled bodies on exquisitely worked exterior wall panels. These fleshy apsaras run riot across the surface of the stone, putting on make-up, washing their hair, playing games, dancing, and endlessly knotting and unknotting their girdles . . Beside the heavenly nymphs are serried ranks of griffins, guardian deities and, most notoriously, extravagantly interlocked maithunas, or lovemaking couples."
The temples have several thousand statues and art works, with Kandarya Mahadeva temple alone decorated with over 870. Some 10% of these iconographic carvings contain sexual themes and various sexual poses. A common misconception is that, since the old structures with carvings in Khajuraho are temples, the carvings depict sex between deities; however the kama arts represent diverse sexual expressions of different human beings. The vast majority of arts depict various aspects the everyday life, mythical stories as well as symbolic display of various secular and spiritual values important in Hindu tradition. For example, depictions show women putting on makeup, musicians making music, potters, farmers, and other folks in their daily life during the medieval era. These scenes are in the outer padas as is typical in Hindu temples.
There is iconographic symbolism embedded in the arts displayed in Khajuraho temples. Core Hindu values are expressed in multitude of ways. Even the Kama scenes, when seen in combination of sculptures that precede and follow, depict the spiritual themes such as moksha. In the words of Stella Kramrisch,
This state which is “like a man and woman in close embrace” is a symbol of moksa, final release or reunion of two principles, the essence (Purusha) and the nature (Prakriti).
— Stella Kramrisch, 1976
The Khajuraho temples represent one expression of many forms of arts that flourished in Rajput kingdoms of India from 8th through 10th century CE. For example, contemporary with Khajuraho were the publications of poems and drama such as Prabodhacandrodaya, Karpuramanjari, Viddhasalabhanjika and Kavyamimansa. Some of the themes expressed in these literary works are carved as sculpture in Khajuraho temples. Some sculptures at the Khajuraho monuments dedicated to Vishnu include the Vyalas, which are hybrid imaginary animals with lions body, and are found in other Indian temples. Some of these hybrid mythical art work include Vrik Vyala (hybrid of wolf and lion) and Gaja Vyala (hybrid of elephant and lion). These Vyalas may represent syncretic, creative combination of powers innate in the two.
TOURISM AND CULTURAL EVENTS
The temples in Khajuraho are broadly divided into three parts : the Eastern group, the Southern Group and the Western group of temples of which the Western group alone has the facility of an Audio guided tour wherein the tourists are guided through the seven eight temples. There is also an audio guided tour developed by the Archaeological Survey of India which includes a narration of the temple history and architecture.
The Khajuraho Dance Festival is held every year in February. It features various classical Indian dances set against the backdrop of the Chitragupta or Vishwanath Temples.
The Khajuraho temple complex offers a light and sound show every evening. The first show is in English language and the second one in Hindi. It is held in the open lawns in the temple complex, and has received mixed reviews.
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development has set up kiosks at the Khajuraho railway station, with tourist officers to provide information for Khajuraho visitors.
WIKIPEDIA
Video Mapping Philipp Geist_Ano da Alemanha no Brasil - Cristo Redentor 2014
„VideoInstallation by Philipp Geist“, "Philipp Geist", „Copyright 2014 Philipp Geist / VG Bildkunst 2014", www.videogeist.de, mail@videogeist.de, „Rio de Janeiro“, "Santa Marta“, „Cristo Redentor“, „Dona Marta“, „Deutschland + Brasilien 2013-2014“, “Alemanha + Brasil 2013-2014”
Photo by Fred Pacífico
©2014 Philipp Geist / VG BIldkunst Bonn
Rio de Janeiro / Brazil 2014
Christ statue (Cristo Redentor) – May 12
Dona Marta favela – May 15 and 16,2014
Light Art-Video-Mapping-Installations Philipp Geist in Rio de Janeiro / Brazil 2014
on the Christ statue (Cristo Redentor) - May 12 and in the Dona Marta favela - May 15 and 16,
2014
Installation Philipp Geist Year of Germany in Brazil 2013/2014
Concept Time Drifts May 2014
At the end of the Year of Germany in Brazil 2013/2014, the artist Philipp Geist (Berlin, 1976)
develops two light installations in Rio this year; the first one on the world-famous Christ statue
(Cristo Redentor) and the other installation in the Santa Marta favela. For the installation the
artist presents artistic-liberal and poetic German and Brazilian themes and develops a building
and floor light installation of colored words and phrases in Portuguese, German, and in other
international languages. The installation deals with cultural characteristics and achievements of
both countries and visualizes the issues of time and space, volatility and presence in a free
artistic style. The two projects are in fact a double project which is combined. The installation
on the symbol of Rio and Brazil, the Christ statue, is recorded and projected onto the small
buildings and huts of the favela. The Christ statue, which has been built to protect the city and
the sailors, is symbolically projected on the shantytown, the favela, in a protective way. The
installation in the favela will be seen not only on a facade as a large cinema projection or as a
static image, but on several winding buildings, the roofs, the floor and on the steps. Thus, the
visitor becomes a part of the installation and can immerse into the projection and the light and
introduce himself. Chalk crayons are put out on the streets in the favela and the young and old
residents and visitors can write and paint words on the street, the ground, the stairs or even on
the house walls. The residents and several institutions should be addressed to submit words and
associations dealing with Rio, Brazil and Germany.
For the installation, which was shown at the Luminale in 2012, the artist Philipp Geist won the
German Lighting Design Award 2013 (Deutscher Lichtdesign-Preis 2013) in the category Light Art.
The series 'Time Drifts' is characterized by the complex and subtle way of visualizing various
currents and voices in cultural contexts and to provide institutions and visitors with the
opportunity of substantive participation: different personalities, visitors and institutions may be
addressed in advance and then contribute words and associations. Current and historico-cultural
topics are researched in advance by the artist and then integrated in a sensitive and subtle way.
The projection dismisses the use of screens, because concepts and associations are projected on
a large area onto the floor surface on several facades and in theater fog. Over the course of two
days, the installation can be seen on-site in the favela on May 15 and 16 and on the Cristo
Redentor on May 12 for a day.
Short, tall, young and old visitors can interactively participate in the installation by tracing and
adding words with colored chalk crayons available on the streets. Thus, over the period of the
installation, a carpet of words is evolved with terms that are contributed locally by the visitors
by means of the temporary and volatile 'medium' of chalk crayons. Philipp Geist develops in this
way a dialogue between the place, the visitors and his artistic work.
The concrete, tangible projection of the architecture and the static terms on the floor area
represents the facts and visible relics that are responsible for our understanding of history. The
transparent and volatile projection in the fog reminds us that part of the history can not be
preserved and that it is created in our individual imagination in a single moment. Words are
briefly visible as a metaphor for transience and then disappear again. This interplay of the
various text and image layers in the space refers to the location and the history/-ies of Brazil
and Germany and the cultural exchange between the two countries. The visitors themselves are
part of the installation: they dive into the large floor projection. In this way, different
perspectives and experiences of space are unified. Abstract passages which are created, then
overlapped and displaced by each other symbolize the constant changes in history, the passage
of time and the transience of existence. Even the understanding of the past is in the flux. The
modern writings and formations created on the computer establish a connection to the present
and the possibilities of today's technology and show that the perception of history and culture
depends always on the possibilities and constraints of the present.
'Time Drifts - Words of Berlin' is part of a series of installations, which has been shown in recent
years by Philipp Geist, and which are always re-developed site-specifically and adapted to the
local conditions: In October 2012, Philipp Geist showed the installation on the entire Potsdamer
Platz (public square) and the Kolhoff Tower and Renzo Piano Tower skyscrapers. In April 2012
the installation was shown at the Luminale in Frankfurt where it was seen by more than 40,000
visitors and thus the main project of the Luminale 2012. In 2011, Philipp Geist presented the
'Time Drifts' installation in Vancouver at the Jack Poole Plaza, as well as in Montreal on the
Place des Arts in 2010. The 'Timing' installation was shown at the 2009 Glow Festival in
Eindhoven. In the end of 2009, on the occasion of the birthday of the King of Thailand, 2-3
million visitors saw his facade installation at the royal throne in Bangkok. Other projects
include: 'Timelines' at the prestigious Pallazzio delle Esposizioni (Rome, 2007), 'Time Fades'
at the Cultural Forum of Berlin and 'Broken Time Lines' at the old spa Kurhaus Ahrenshoop
(Germany, 2008).
Geist's projects are primarily characterized by their complexity concerning the integration of
space, sound and motion images. His video mapping installations waive screens and transform a
wide range of architectures in moving, picturesque light sculptures which challenge the viewer's
perception of two- and three-dimensionality.
www.alemanha-brasil.org/br/node/8542
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-12
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-15
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-16
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Arte de luz - Instalações de Mapeamento de Vídeo por Philipp Geist no Rio de Janeiro / Brasil
2014 no Cristo Redentor no dia 12 de maio e na favela Santa Marta nos dias 15 e 16 de maio de
2014
Instalação Philipp Geist Ano Alemanha + Brasil 2013/2014
Conceito Time Drifts Maio 2014
No final do ano Alemnaha + Brasil 2013/2014, o artista Philipp Geist (1976, Berlim) desenvolverá
duas instalações de luz no Rio; uma delas será exibida na mundialmente famosa estátua do
Cristo Redentor, e a outra na favela Santa Marta. Para a instalação, o artista traz temas teutobrasileiros
de maneira liberal-artística e poética desenvolvendo instalações de luz em edifícios e
no solo a partir de palavras e conceitos coloridos em Português, Alemão e em outros idiomas
internacionais. A instalação lida com as peculiaridades e realizações culturais de ambos os países
e visualiza as questões de tempo e espaço e de volatilidade e presença no estilo liberal-artístico.
Os dois projetos em questão representam um projeto duplo que é combinado. A instalação na
estátua do Cristo Redentor, como um símbolo do Rio e do Brasil, será gravada e projetada nos
pequenos prédios e barracos da favela. A estátua do Cristo Redentor, que foi erguida para
proteger a cidade e os marinheiros, será então projetada como um símbolo de proteção em uma
favela. A instalação na favela é visto não apenas em uma fachada como uma projeção grande de
cinema ou como uma imagem estática, mas em vários prédios sinuosos, em telhados, no solo e
nas escadas. Desta maneira, o visitante conseguirá ser parte da instalação e imergir e mergulhar
na projeção e na luz. Na favela, será distribuído giz para pintura de rua, e os moradores e
visitantes, tanto jovens quanto velhos, podem escrever e pintar conceitos na rua, no solo, nas
escadas ou até mesmo nas paredes das casas. Os moradores e diversas instituições serão
convidados a contribuir com conceitos e associações que representam o Rio, o Brasil e a
Alemanha.
Para as instalações apresentadas na Luminal em 2012, o artista Philipp Geist ganhou o
'Deutscher Lichtdesign-Preis 2013” (Prêmio Alemão de Desenho de Luz de 2013) na categoria
Arte de Luz. A série Time Drifts caracteriza-se pela forma complexa e sutil de visualizar várias
correntes e vozes em contextos culturais e de oferecer a instituições e aos visitantes a
oportunidade de participar: diferentes personalidades, visitantes e instituições podem ser
contatados antecipadamente para contribuir com termos e associações. Temas atuais, históricos
e culturais serão previamente pesquisados pelo artista e, depois, integrados de uma forma
sensível e sutil. A projeção é realizada sem o uso de telas porque conceitos e associações são
projetados, em grande estilo, sobre a superfície do solo, em diversas frentes e envolvidos em
fumaça. Ao longo de dois dias, a instalação estará em exibição em 15 e 16 de maio na favela, e
em 12 de maio, por um dia, no Cristo Redentor.
Visitantes jovens e velhos podem envolver-se na instalação e traçar ou adicionar palavras com
giz colorido, que será distribuído, e assim participar interativamente na instalação. Desta
maneira, durante a duração da instalação, será desenvolvido um tapete de palavras. As palavras
serão fornecidas, no próprio local, pelos visitantes usando o giz, um meio temporário e volátil.
Philipp Geist desenvolve assim um diálogo entre o local, os visitantes e seu trabalho artístico.
A área de projeção concreta e tangível da arquitetura e os termos estáticos sobre a superfície do
solo representam os fatos e as relíquias visíveis que compõem a nossa compreensão da história. A
área de projeção transparente e sumindo por dentro da fumaça lembra que parte da história não
pode ser preservada e que ela é criada na nossa imaginação individual momentaneamente.
Conceitos são brevemente visíveis, como uma metáfora para a transitoriedade e, logo mais,
desaparecem. Esta interação entre as várias camadas de texto e de imagens no espaço refere-se
à localização e a(s) história(s) do Brasil e da Alemanha e o intercâmbio cultural entre os dois
países. Os próprios visitantes tornam-se parte da instalação: eles imergem na grande projeção
do solo. Desta forma, diferentes perspectivas e experiências de espaço são unidas. Passagens
abstratas que são formadas, sobrepostas e suprimidas pela próxima simbolizam as mudanças
contínuas na história, a passagem do tempo e a transitoriedade da existência. A compreensão do
passado também está no fluxo. As fontes e formações modernas criadas no computador
estabelecem uma conexão com o presente e com as possibilidades da tecnologia de hoje: a
percepção da história e da cultura sempre dependende das capacidades e limitações do
presente.
'Time Drifts - Words of Berlin' faz parte de uma série de instalações, que foram apresentadas
durante os últimos anos por Philipp Geist e que são sempre redesenvolvidas para as condições
locais específicas: em outubro de 2012, Philipp Geist exibiu a instalação em toda a praça
Potsdamer Platz (Berlim) e nos dois arranha-céus Kolhoff Tower (Berlim) e Renzo Piano Tower
(Londres). Em abril de 2012, a instalação foi apresentada no evento da Luminal em Frankfurt
onde foi vista por mais de 40.000 visitantes sendo o principal projeto da Luminal de 2012. Em
2011, Philipp Geist mostrou a instalação Time Drifts na praça Jack Poole Plaza em Vancouver
bem como em Montreal, Canadá, no centro de arte Place des Arts, em 2010. A instalação Timing
foi exibida no Glow Festival de 2009 in Eindhoven, Holanda. No final de 2009 e por ocasião do
aniversário do rei tailandês, aprox. 2 a 3 milhões de visitantes viram a instalação de fachada do
artista no trono real em Banguecoque. Seus outros projetos incluem: Time Lines, no prestigiado
museu Palazzio delle Esposizioni (Roma, 2007); Time Fades, no Fórum Cultural de Berlim;
Broken Time Lines, no antigo spa Kurhaus Ahrenshoop (Alemanha, 2008).
Os projetos de Geist são principalmente caracterizados por sua complexidade na integração de
espaço, som e imagens de movimento. Suas instalações de mapeamento de vídeo renunciam
telas e transformam uma ampla gama de arquiteturas em esculturas móveis e pitorescas que
desafiam a percepção do espectador de duas e três dimensões.
www.alemanha-brasil.org/br/node/8542
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-12
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-15
www.alemanha-brasil.org/Programme/Dia/2014-05-16
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Lichtkunst-VideoMappingInstallationen Philipp Geist in Rio de Janeiro / Brasilien 2014
an der Christstatue (Cristo Redender) 12.5 und in der Favela Santa Marta 15./16.5.2014
Installation Philipp Geist Deutsch-Brasilianisches Jahr 2013/2014
Konzept Time Drifts Mai 2014
Zum Abschluss des Deutsch-Brasilianischen-Jahres 2013/2014 entwickelt der Berliner Künstler
Philipp Geist (1976) zwei Lichtinstallation in Rio d.J.; eine an der weltbekannten Christstatue
(Cristo Redender) und in die andere Installation in der Favela Santa Marta. Bei der Installation
greift der Künstler künstlerisch frei und poetisch deutsch brasilianische Themen auf und
entwickelt eine Gebäude- und Boden-Lichtinstallation aus farbigen Wörtern und Begriffen in
portugiesischer, deutscher, und in weiteren internationalen Sprachen. Die Installation thematisiert
kulturelle Besonderheiten und Errungenschaften beider Länder und visualisiert die Themen Zeit
und Raum, Flüchtigkeit und Präsenz in freien künstlerischen Art. Bei den beiden Projekten handelt
es sich um ein Doppelprojekt welches kombiniert wird. Die Installation auf das Wahrzeichen von
Rio und Brasilien die Christstatue, wird aufgenommen und auf die kleinen Gebäude und Hütten
der Favela projiziert. Die Christstatue die errichtet worden ist um die Stadt und Seeleute zu
schützen, wird so symbolisch schützend über ein Armenviertel die Favela projiziert. Dabei ist die
Installation in der Favela nicht nur auf einer Fassade als große Kinoprojektion oder als statisches
Bild zu sehen, sondern auf mehreren verwinkelten Gebäuden, den Dächern, den Boden und auf
den Stufen. Der Besucher wird vielmehr auf diese Weise selbst Teil der Installation und kann in die
Projektion und das Licht eintauchen und sich einbringen. In der Favela werden Strassenmalkreide
ausgelegt und die Bewohner und Besucher ob jung oder alt können Begriffe auf die Strasse, den
Boden, die Treppenstufen oder sogar auf die Hauswände schreiben und malen. Die Bewohner und
verschiedene Institutionen sollen angesprochen werden Assoziationen und Begriffe die für Rio,
Brasilien und Deutschland stehen einzureichen.
Für die 2012 bei der Luminale gezeigten Installation hat der Künstler Philipp Geist den Deutschen
Lichtdesign-Preis 2013 in der der Kategorie Lichtkunst gewonnen. Die Serie 'Time Drifts' zeichnet
sich aus durch die komplexe und die subtile Möglichkeit, verschiedenste Strömungen und
Stimmen in kulturellen Kontexten sichtbar zu machen und Institutionen und Besuchern die
Möglichkeit zur inhaltlichen Partizipation zu geben: Es können verschiedene Persönlichkeiten,
Besucher und Institute im Vorfeld angesprochen werden, die Begriffe und Assoziationen
beisteuern. Aktuelle und kulturhistorische Themen werden im Vorfeld vom Künstler recherchiert
und auf sensible und subtile Weise integriert. Die Projektion verzichtet auf den Einsatz von
Leinwänden, denn Begriffe und Assoziationen werden grossflächig auf die Bodenfläche, auf
mehrere Fassaden und in Theaternebel projiziert. Über den Zeitraum von 2 Tagen wird die
Installation vor Ort in der Favela am 15/16.Mai und die Installation am Cristo Redentor am 12.Mai
für einen Tag zu sehen sein.!
Kleine, große, junge und alte Besucher können sich einbringen in die Installation und mit farbiger
Straßenmalkreide, die ausgelegt wird, Wörter nachzeichnen und hinzufügen und so interaktiv an
der Installation teilnehmen. Über die Installationsdauer entsteht somit ein Wörterteppich aus
Begriffen, die vor Ort von den Besuchern selbst mittels dem temporären und flüchtigen 'Medium'
der Strassenmalkreide beigesteuert werden. Geist entwickelt auf diese Weise einen Dialog
zwischen dem Ort, den Besuchern und seiner künstlerischen Arbeit. ! !
Die konkrete, greifbare Projektionsfläche der Architektur und die statischen Begriffe auf der
Bodenfläche stehen für die Fakten und sichtbaren Relikte, welche unser Geschichtsverständnis
ausmachen. Die transparente, sich verflüchtigende Projektionsfläche im Nebel erinnert daran,
dass ein Teil der Geschichte nicht konserviert werden kann und im Moment in unserer individuellen
Vorstellung entsteht. Begriffe werden als Metapher für die Vergänglichkeit kurzzeitig sichtbar und
verschwinden sofort wieder. Dieses Zusammenspiel der verschiedenen Text- und Bildschichten im
Raum verweist auf den Ort und die Geschichte(n) Brasiliens und Deutschlands und den kulturellen
Austausch beider Länder. Die Besucher selbst werden Teil der Installation: sie tauchen in die
großflächige Bodenprojektion ein. Auf diese Weise vereinen sich unterschiedliche Perspektiven
und Raumerfahrungen. Abstrakte Passagen, die sich aufbauen, überlagern und gegenseitig
verdrängen, symbolisieren die ständigen Veränderungen in der Geschichte, den Lauf der Zeit und
die Flüchtigkeit des Seins. Auch das Verständnis von der Vergangenheit ist im Fluss. Die
modernen Schriften und Formationen, die am Computer entstanden sind, stellen eine Verbindung
zur Gegenwart und den Möglichkeiten der heutigen Technik her und zeigen, dass die Erfahrbarkeit
von Geschichte und Kultur immer von den Möglichkeiten und Rahmenbedingungen der Gegenwart
abhängig ist.
'Time Drifts - Words of Berlin' ist Teil einer Serie von Installationen, die Philipp Geist in den letzten
Jahren gezeigt hat, und die dabei immer wieder neu an die örtlichen Gegebenheiten ortsspezifisch
weiterentwickelt wird: Im Oktober 2012 zeigte Geist die Installation auf dem gesamten Potsdamer
Platz und den beiden Hochhäusern Kolhoff Tower und Renzo Piano Tower. Im April 2012 wurde die
Installation in Frankfurt auf der Luminale gezeigt, wurde von mehr als 40.000 Besuchern gesehen
und war das Hauptprojekt der Luminale 2012. Im Jahr 2011 zeigte Geist die Installation Time Drifts
in Vancouver am Jack-Poole Plaza, ebenso wie in Montreal am Place des Arts in 2010. Die
Installation 'Timing' war 2009 auf dem Glow Festival in Eindhoven zu sehen. Ende 2009 sahen
anlässlich des Geburtstages des thailändischen Königs ca. 2-3 Millionen Besucher seine
Fassadeninstallation am königlichen Thron in Bangkok. Andere Projekte waren u.a.: 'Time Lines'
am renommierten Museum delle Esposizioni (2007), 'Time Fades' am Berliner Kulturforum,
'Broken Time Lines' am alten Kurhaus Ahrenshoop (2008).
Geists Projekte sind in erster Linie gekennzeichnet durch ihre Komplexität in der Integration von
Raum, Ton und Bewegbild. Seine Video-Mapping-Installationen verzichten auf Leinwände und
verwandeln verschiedenste Architekturen in bewegte, malerische Lichtskulpturen, die die
Wahrnehmung der Betrachter von Zwei- und Dreidimensionalität herausfordern.