History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.s2.33

c15.s2.33

The famous iron pillar (Fig. 29) near Delhi by the side of the Kutab Minar, which, from a consideration of the script and the text of the inscription on the pillar, is believed to have been constructed sometime in the early 4th century A.D. during the reign of the King Chandravarman of Pushkarana, Rajputana, as a pillar of victory. According to the historians, the pillar was first erected on Mount Vishnupada (probably at Mathura-), as given in the inscription; it was afterwards removed to its present site by the king Anangapala II in or about 1050 A.D., when he rebuilt the city of Delhi. The pillar is about 24 ft. l 16.4 in. in diameter at the bottom and 12 in. in diamete top. The engraved capital at the top is 3 ft. 6 in. in length. The weight of the pillar has been estimated to exceed 6 tons. Analysis of the specimens of the material of the pillar has proved that it is made of wrought iron without any alloy. Specific gravity of the metal, as given by Hadfield, is 7·81, that of the purest wrought iron being 7.84. The results of his analysis, as given in the Journal of the Iron and Steel Industries, are :