South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c3: Contents
South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c3
- Language
- English
Contents
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North Indian and South Indian Art—Age of Agastya—Works attributed to Agastya—Exponents of South Indian Art—*Kasyapa*—*Maya*—*Nagnajit*—*Jaya*, *Parajoy* and *Bijaya*—Brahmin immigration to the South .. .. 1—12
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CHAPTER II. Saivaism and the growth of Saivaite Art in South India—Saivaite Kings—Overthrow of Buddhism—Manikkavacagar Appar—Tirugnana-Sambandha—Sundara—*Devadānas* (gifts to the gods)—Images—Lamps—*Sthapathis*—Saivaite and Vaishnavite images .. .. 13—28
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CHAPTER III. Canons of the *Silpasastras*—The wax-model—Significance of the canons—The Greek canons—*Dhyanas* and *Lakhanas*—*Tāla*—*Angula*—The three measures—The plumb lines—The five dimensions—The Three poses—The 'finger-plays'—Ornaments .. .. 29—46
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CHAPTER IV. Chola Art and the earlier Saivaite schools—Evolution of the image of Nataraja—Artists in different mediums—Contemporary stone—Sculpture—The Pallavas and Saivaite Art—The oldest example of Saivaite Bronze—The Java image—Leading examples—History—Relative dates of the leading examples—The examples from Ceylon—Sinhalese and South Indian Art—Images of Rama—The planets—Jaina images .. .. 47—71
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CHAPTER V. Criticism—Buddhist and Saivaite Sculpture—Effect of the canons—Indian and Greek Sculpture—Indian artistic anatomy—Artistic estimate of the Bronzes .. .. 72—80 the Roman world, and the most important events of the reign of Antoninus Pius, are related by his biographer, and the reader will not be sorry to find them here in a more concise form. The reign of Antoninus Pius is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is only another mode of saying that its happiness was complete. During the twenty-three years of his administration, the Roman empire was governed by the same invariable maxims of justice and peace. The natives of a vast extent of country were protected by the same laws, and enjoyed the same privileges. The frontiers were defended by the same legions, and the same spirit of moderation and equity prevailed in the councils of the emperor. The death of Antoninus was lamented as a public calamity; and the memory of his virtues was preserved by the gratitude of his subjects, and the imitation of his successor.
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The reign of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, which followed, was a period of great activity and of great events. The empire was attacked on all sides by the barbarians, and the emperor was obliged to spend the greater part of his life in the camp. He was a man of a mild and philosophical temper, and he would have preferred the quiet of the study to the tumult of the field. But he was a prince of a high sense of duty, and he did not shrink from the task which was imposed upon him. He defended the frontiers with vigour, and he defeated the enemies of Rome in many a hard-fought battle. His death was a loss to the empire, and it was felt by all classes of his subjects. He was the last of the good emperors, and with him the golden age of the Roman empire may be said to have terminated.
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The character of the Roman government, under the Antonines, was that of a mild and paternal despotism. The emperor was the source of all power, and his will was the law of the land. But he was restrained by the influence of the senate, and by the force of public opinion. The senate was still a body of great dignity and importance, and its members were the principal officers of the state. The emperor was careful to consult them on all matters of importance, and he was always ready to listen to their advice. The public opinion was also a powerful check upon the actions of the emperor. The people of Rome were still a proud and independent race, and they were not afraid to express their dissatisfaction with the measures of the government. The emperor was aware of this, and he was always careful to avoid any act that would be likely to give offence to the people.
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The administration of justice was one of the most important duties of the emperor. He was the supreme judge of the empire, and he was always ready to hear the complaints of his subjects. He was assisted by a council of jurists, who were the most learned men of the age. The laws were administered with impartiality, and the rights of the citizens were protected. The taxes were moderate, and they were collected with fairness. The public works were carried on with vigour, and the cities of the empire were adorned with magnificent buildings. The trade and commerce of the empire were encouraged, and the people were prosperous and happy. The Roman empire, under the Antonines, was a model of good government, and it was the envy of the world.