An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s9.23

v1.c21.s9.23

An extensive use of large iron beams is found in temples in Orissa built from the 9th to the 13th century. The Sun temple at Konark has yielded 29 iron beams, the largest of which is over 10·66 m long and 12 × 12 cm in cross-section. The Jagannātha temple at Puri has 239 iron beams, their dimensions ranging up to 5·18 m in length and 15 × 10 cm or 13 × 15 cm in cross-section. They are of wrought iron, and the percentage chemical composition is: iron, 99·64; carbon, trace; sulphur, trace; manganese, nil; phosphorus, 0·15. Despite a similarity in composition of the iron beams with the Delhi pillar, these beams are severely corroded on account of salt-laden air of the sea coast.