South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c8.100

c8.100

The modern practising sculptors however have generally forgotten the practice of these three poses and although I read to many of them the original text from *Kāsyapiya*, and the *Agastiya* giving the exact plumb-lines with reference to the three *vangas*, they were unable to illustrate the rules by a diagram. The only poses which are familiar to them are the *Sama vanga* and *Trivanga* the last of which 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.