Temple Structures Research Articles

The Eighteenth-Century Gardens of Bundelkhand, India, compared to the Mughal, Rajput and Colonial Gardens

ABSTRACT Bundelkhand is a region in central India demarcated on the basis of uniform socio-cultural practices. During the later eighteenth and early nineteenth century, a peculiar garden-style developed under the patronisation of the princely states in Bundelkhand. The gardens of Bundelkhand have a characteristic typology and identical gardens can be seen all across Bundelkhand. These walled gardens consist of an outhouse (kothi), a temple, well, stepwell (baoli/bawdi), irrigation channels (milai), and memorial structures. Their distinctiveness illustrates how regional styles flourished despite the influence of the Mughal, Rajput and Colonial styles which otherwise dominated the Indian garden landscape in this period. Following the authors’ previous papers on the typology of Bungali gardens, the present paper compares them with the other established garden types in India: Mughal, Rajput and Colonial. The comparison is helpful to understand the development of regional garden style, sometimes influenced by other typologies, yet which developed into an independent type.

Sheltering megalithic Temples in Malta – evaluating the process through data collection and modelling

Since their excavation, a number of the sites listed as part of “The Megalithic Temples of Malta” inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list have been afflicted by material and structural problems, including collapses. Therefore, three of these sites, the Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien Temples, were protected by open-sided shelters, to address some of the principal causes of deterioration (e.g. direct rainfall, surface weathering, thermal stress). Environmental monitoring, condition assessments and biological surveys of the three sites took place before and after sheltering and are still in progress. To understand how the shelters are affecting these structures, a research programme has started aimed at analysing, through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the environmental data collected over a period of more than ten years. The aim of using CFD on the Temples is to provide detailed information on how different environmental conditions can affect the sites. For the CFD, macro and meso scale approaches will be used. The macroscale model represents the regional environment, including the all-terrain features around the Temples. Mesoscale modelling represents the Temple structures in a more detailed way. The final goal is to find confident correlations between CFD, and representative areas selected within the Temples showing particular deterioration patterns. All this information will be integrated with the results of in situ analyses to identify the causes of material deterioration and possibly mitigate against them.

Governance and Management of Temples: A Framework

There is intense debate in public domain about should government be controlling temples. This is being contested in courts also. In this context two key questions that are raised are: • If the temples are to be freed from state control, to which institutions could these be handed over? • What should be the relationship of these institutions with the State, and the inter and intra Governance institutional and administrative structure of temples? This Report seeks to provide macro institutional framework for: • State level Governance structure for temple management; • Structure of inter-temples network, and intra-temple organizational design and administration; • Finances, audit and control system. The focus of the Report is on Hindu temples under the control of endowment department of the states. This paper traces the history of state take over of temples and the system as it exists taking as case the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR & CE), of Tamil Nadu. This paper provides a framework for governance, institutional arrangements, and control on the principles of public – public partnership. This principle balances the power between state and public. It recommends that while State will be the custodian of assets and will manage through independent Boards of Temples, the management of the assets and all spiritual rituals will be the responsibility of respective Temple Boards. The systems are more or less similar in the Southern states and these recommendations are applicable across these states.

Śivagrha (Prambanan Temple) as an Archetype of Hindu Theology in Nusantara (An Endeavor to Discover Hindu Theological Knowledge through Ancient Temple Heritage)

Many scholars believe that the Hindu community in Nusantara worship Trimūrti (Brahmā, Visnu, and Śiva) equally. This opinion is shared among the experts. However, it is not prevalent within Hinduism. Hence, it contradicts the concept of Ista Devata (the glorification of one Devata among the others). This qualitative study examines Prambanan Temple as an Archetype of Hindu Theology in Nusantara. This study focusses on the structure of the Prambanan temple complex, which related to the concept of Hindu Nusantara Theology, the depiction of Hindu Nusantara Theology, and the special meaning of Prambanan Temple. Data analysis was carried out using an Ethnographic Content Analysis (ECA). This study concludes that Prambanan Temple is convincing as an Archetype of Hindu Theology, in two typologies. The typology of Nirguna Brahman lies in the concept where Prambanan is a place to worship Parabrahman, The Absolute, The Supreme God. Meanwhile, the typology of Saguna Brahman lies in the concept where Prambanan is a Śivagrha, The House of Lord Śiva, a place to worship Śiva as the Highest Gods. This typology of Saguna Brahman is the base of Śivaistik Theology. Prambanan temple construction uses the Vāstupurusamandala pattern, which made it as the grandest temple in Nusantara. Even though Śivagrha is popular as a temple complex to worship Tri Murti as equals, the fact which lies in temple structures as well as in the manuscript (prasasti) proves that it has a Śivaistik Concept, where Śiva is worshiped as the highest Devata (Parabrahman).

Horrors of the Inner Chamber: Temples, Homes, and Secret Atrocities in Late Antiquity

This article addresses a pattern in the representation of the spaces of heathen practice in late antique Christian literature and in the conceptualisation of a necessary response to those spaces. I argue that Christian authors came to regard both temple structures and homes as suspicious enclosures, potentially concealing nefarious practices that could harm civic order and fortune. This view developed out of both a progressive suspicion of the domestic sphere in late antique Christian culture as harbouring heathen and heretical devotion, and a broader Roman suspicion of the Near Eastern temple, its architecture, and its secret priestly activities within. Such temples were constructed from early antiquity to exclude outsiders and to privilege a priestly cult within, unlike Roman temples that visibly framed the main cult image.

Anastelosis of Greco-Roman Temple Remains in Western Anatolia: Principles, Implementations and Assessment

ABSTRACT Anastelosis, which is defined as the reassembly of a structure by bringing together its existing original fragments, is a technique of conservation and presentation in archaeological sites. The aim of this study is to contribute to the conservation and presentation of the structures and to determine the basic principles to be considered during the implementation by analysing and evaluating the anastelosis implementation at temple structures in Western Anatolia, Turkey. The authors examined on-site evidence, archival and literature review. Analysis criteria were determined as emphasis of the structure within site scale and in original state, structural and visual integrity of the monument, authenticity, reliability, distinguishability, visual and material compatibility, reversibility and re-treatability. As a result, it was pointed out that the principles of reversibility/re-treatability and distinguishability should be managed while providing reliability, compatibility/structural and visual integrity in line with the preservation of authenticity.

Combined use of refraction seismic, MASW, and ambient noise array measurements to determine the near-surface velocity structure in the Selinunte Archaeological Park, SW Sicily

Seismic refraction, multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and ambient noise array measurements using the wireless array analysis (WARAN) system were applied to acquire near-surface profiles of seismic velocities in the Selinunte Archaeological Park. This ancient city is famous for numerous temples, which according to the literature, were destroyed by at least two earthquakes in antiquity. The morphology of the archeological park is affected by two rivers which in combination with the temple remains suggests three study sites. We determined the subsurface velocity at these three locations as essential information for further studies of the response of the temple structures to earthquake ground motions. The stratigraphy of the site indicates that low-velocity layers might exist. Seismic refraction profiles with 69 m spread and 24 geophones were employed during the active seismic experiments. The measured P-wave velocities of the top two layers were used as a constraint during the inversion of dispersion relations from the MASW and WARAN data. The reliability of the velocity profiles was tested by forward calculation of synthetic seismograms. P-wave velocities which were not well constraint throughout the dispersion curve inversions were adjusted through suitable Poisson’s ratios based on the well constraint S-velocities. The combined use of the three different kinds of measurements and multi-mode interpretation of the dispersion curves revealed velocity profiles including low-velocity layers which are supported by de-amplification observed in ratios of horizontal and vertical components of noise spectra.

A new Urartian temple in Körzüt fortress, Turkey: a report on the rescue excavation of 2016 and new approaches on the origin of Urartian square temple architecture

In this article we share the results of a rescue excavation carried by the Van Museum at Körzüt fortress in 2016. During excavations on the south-west side of Körzüt fortress which was the most important centre of the Urartian Kingdom in the Muradiye plain according to the Urartian inscriptions and the discovered architectural remains, our research team reached the ruins of a square-planned room with a rabbeted façade. Although it is similar to the standard square-planned Urartian temples, especially with its rabbeted façade and square-planned cella, this structure appears as a new example in the light of its external plan that can be determined. Although there is no building inscription, the existence of a rabbeted façade that we know only from the temple structures in Urartian architecture, shows that this building is a temple. This structure, which we think belongs to the early period of the Urartian Kingdom in terms of both stonework and plan, also allows us to make new contributions to the discussions regarding the origin and development of the Urartian religious architecture. In terms of its external plan, it has a rectangular form and a square cella similar to the Neo-Hittite temples found in Northern Syria and Levantine region. Except for the Urartian period, which is emphasized in the article, the potsherds mostly belonging to the Middle Ages and a coin that belongs to the 10th or 11th century AD are other important small finds.

Dismantling of hipped roof and restoration of cribbed structure of monastic buildings, churches and temples

The paper is devoted to the problem of adaptation and restoration of monastic structures, churches and temples without complete dismantling of the elements of the main load-bearing structures, using technologies and methods of work that allow delicately and effectively restoring the most important elements of buildings. The progress of work on the restoration of the hipped roof, using the lifting method - lifting the load-bearing part of the cribbed roof structure, is accurately and consistently described in the paper, as well as flexibility and efficiency in choosing a new solution for lifting, taking into account the features of the object identified during the work. The work on raising the roof was carried out during the course of adapting the building to modern use, based on the needs of the Kirillo-Belozersky museum-reserve.

PECULIARITIES OF NEREKHTA ECCLESIONYMS FUNCTIONING IN FOLKISH COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE

Results of the study of peculiarities of ecclesionyms functioning in speech of folk of a provincial town of central Russia are reflected in the article, their structure and transformations in the language are analysed. What served as the material is the names of temple structures of the town of Nerekhta, Kostroma Region.

АНАЛИЗ РЫНКА И ПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬСКИХ СВОЙСТВ КЕРАМИЧЕСКОГО КИРПИЧА

A ceramic brick is one of the most popular building materials used in residential, public and landscape construction, in the construction of temple structures over a long period and is still relevant today. The article presents the results of the ceramic brick market analysis to assess the demand for the market and the dynamics of the development of production over the years. An analysis of the export and import of ceramic bricks in Russia is presented; the distribution of production capacities by districts of the Russian Federation is analyzed. It has been established that the basic requirements for a ceramic brick are fully satisfied, mainly due to Russian production, the volumes of which depend on the pace and volume of construction. The nomenclature and basic consumer properties of ceramic bricks, satisfying the requirements of builders and customers, ensuring a long period of maintenance-free operation, preserving architectural expressiveness and aesthetic properties are considered. It has been revealed that the main producers with significant production capacities for the production of ceramic bricks react in a timely manner to market fluctuations and consumer demands by adjusting the change in shape, color, size and quantity of products manufactured.

EXPRESSION OF SACRAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND FIGURATIVE STRUCTURE OF ORTHODOX COMPLEXES

The article « EXPRESSION OF SACRAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND FIGURATIVE STRUCTURE OF ORTHODOX COMPLEXES» is devoted to the relevance of the research topic, which is due to the gradual revival of Orthodox Church building in Ukraine. The lack of a scientific and methodological base leads to the massive, not individual construction of new churches ... this is felt when you look at it, when you are in it.It is necessary to pay attention to sacred images of Orthodox churches and varieties of approach to the modern design of Orthodox Church complexes.The article informs the readers about that in order to approach the symbolic image of one or another element in the temple; one must rely on the peculiar interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The architect must transform all his conclusions into an image, a symbol and transfer it to the design of the temple.The Orthodox Church is a complex symbol inexhaustible in its sense. Its placement, temple architecture, internal and external decoration, and the painting system symbolically expresses what cannot be directly depicted.A person subconsciously reads all these symbols without even thinking, the impression and understanding of the church is formed, or vice versa.The paper is supplied with modern examples of the temple structure, which shows a visual way of application and a modern interpretation of church symbols in the development of architectural-shaped structures of Orthodox complexes.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS AS EXPRESSIVE DESIRE OF HINDU-BUDDHA RELIGIONS IN JAVA IN 8th– 15th CENTURIES

This study discusses the Hindu-Buddha religions in the ancient Javanese society which developed in 8—15 th Century AD when the centers of the kingdoms in the central part of Java. The case discussed in this paper is concerned with their ritual and ceremony tools used by the worshipped of Hindu-Buddha religions, especially in the regards with the statues of Hindu-Buddha gods, which are still used up to the present time. The statues of Hindu-Buddha gods are actually the realization of wishes to fulfill their worshipper hopes. This study in line with the opinion of Melford E.Spiro (1977), an expert on religion studies, who states that religion tools and rituals can be considered as expressive desires of the religion worshipper. The statues of Gods, temple structure, and reliefs function ot only as decorative matters, but also as expressive desire of silpins (religious artisants) and the community who performs the rituals in regard with their belief. It can be said that these silpin in the ancient Javanese society were doing religious ceremonies and their dedication to their Gods while they were constructing to the statues, reliefs, and temple. It is then these silpins are expressing (1) their dedication to the God by designing certain statues or narrative reliefs, and (2) personal and community expresses in creating religiously aesthetic artifacts.

The “Kamasutra” temples of India: A case for the encoding of psychedelically induced spirituality

The essay proposes that entheogenic mushrooms and shamanic experiences are encoded in the Khajuraho Temples of India. Erotic sculptures of Khajuraho have statues with limbs depicted in strange positions, separated from the body or with orientations that are anatomically impossible. These represent dismemberment experiences typical of shamanic and mystical initiation, a phenomenon with precedents in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The central placement of mushroom depictions in the temple structures indicates that their identities should be sought among entheogenic mushrooms, but features that could distinguish entheogenic mushroom species are often ambiguous. Nonetheless, the centrality of their placement supports the entheogenic hypothesis. While the presence of multiple fungi and plant sources for soma seems likely, the argument for the originality of Amanita muscaria is made in assessing the principal names of the God Vishnu with respect to features of the mushroom. Various associations of the Gods at Khajuraho and other sites suggest the broad identification of Hindu Gods with entheogenic mushrooms. Icons of mushroom are also secretly encoded in the Khajuraho sculptures in association with the so-called vandalized or broken sculptures of Khajuraho. A repeated “figure 8” pattern suggests that the artists deliberately constructed them to appear vandalized in order to encode information depicting the early stage of A. muscaria and other entheogenic fungi. These encoded figures provide support for the argument that A. muscaria, Hindu God Vishnu, Jain Mahaveera, and the Buddha (and perhaps other Gods and Goddesses of Vedic/Jain/Hindu/Buddhist pantheon) could be interconnected. This paper concludes with an assessment of the implications of this entheogenic evidence for the reinterpretation of central aspects of religious beliefs and ideologies of India.

Philistine Cult and Religion According to Archaeological Evidence

The paper surveys and discusses the updated archaeological evidence for Philistine cult and religion, and cult and religion in Philistia during the Iron Age. The evidence can be related to public or official cult, represented in temple and shrine structures, and to that coming from households, representing possibly more popular religion. The evidence of public cult, so far mostly from peripheral sites, includes largely cultural elements linked with the local Canaanite cult and religion. Yet, within households at the Philistine cities there is more evidence for cultic elements of Aegean affinity during Iron Age I. In particular, figurines and ceramic figurative vessels and objects will be discussed. It seems that the Philistine religion may have retained certain distinctive elements also during Iron Age II. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to reconstruct the details of the nature of the Philistine religion due to the limited amount of evidence and lack of textual records.

“Sacra Tharrhica Project”: Preliminary Results of 3D Virtual Reconstruction of the Punic-Roman Sacred Areas of Tharros, Sardinia

Abstract The “Sacra Tharrhica Project” was started by the University of Bologna in cooperation with the University of Cagliari in 2017. The aim is to obtain a 3D virtual reconstruction of all temple structures of the Punic settlement of Tharros on the central west coast of Sardinia, starting from a systematic architectural and archaeological study of the Punic and Roman phases of the buildings. The project has firstly focused on the “Monumental Temple” or “Doric half-columns Temple”. This Punic sacred area was probably monumentalized between the late 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. After the Roman conquest, it was rebuilt between the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D.

Sonamu – The Cultural Significance of the Korean Red Pine

The Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) is widely cultivated in Korea both for its timber and its symbolic significance. It is mentioned in the Korean national anthem and the Korean creation myth and is one of the 10 symbols of longevity. As such it appears frequently in all forms of Korean visual arts, literature and architecture. Most royal palaces and Buddhist temple structures are built with Korean Red Pine. Throughout the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910AD) the Court maintained sustainable forests of the trees to fuel ceramic manufacture and build naval ships. Single pines frequently mark the entrance to Confucian gardens and academies and copses of them appear in palace, tomb and scholarly retreat gardens. The Korean name, 'sonamu', means supreme tree.

FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI MOTIVASI WISATAWAN MANCANEGARA BERKUNJUNG KE PURA PUSEH DESA ADAT BATUAN, GIANYAR


 
 
 The purpose of this research is to know the potential of Puseh and Desa Temple at Batuan Village as a tourist destination and the factors that influence the motivations of foreign tourists visiting those temple. This research was using quantitative descriptive supported by SPSS Version 17.0. The result showed that Puseh and Desa Temple at Batuan Village have a cultural potency to be a tourist destination for foreign tourist visiting those temple. The tourists are dominated by female, the age of tourists are dominated by 25-44 years old and the nationality of foreign tourists are dominated by Australian. According to the validity and reliability test of 18 variables showed that all of the variables are valid and reliable. Accordingly, the variables could be proceeded to the factor analyze. According to the factor analyze test, there are three factors that influence the motivations of foreign tourists visiting Puseh and Desa Temple at Batuan Village, such as 1) The pull factors involved culture uniqueness, historical heritage, arts, custom, new experiences, comfortable, seeing the local peoples preparing the small offerings, easy to access and physiological satisfaction. 2) The promotion factors involved influence of family, influence of co-workers, information from travel agent and information from internet. 3) Push factors involved prestige, temple structure, social interaction, influence of friends and escape as well.
 
 

Preliminary assessment of human remains from the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari

Excavations over the course of many seasons by the Polish-Egyptian Mission in the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari have revealed the presence of multiple intrusive burials within and around the temple structure itself. These burials are dated much later than the construction of Hatshepsut’s temple, most of them seemingly from the Third Intermediate Period, and have been heavily disturbed over the millennia. This article presents a preliminary assessment of human remains from some of these burials. The remains are highly fragmentary and in varying states of preservation, from mummified to completely skeletonized. Only two individuals are present as nearly complete mummies. A brief inventory indicates the presence of multiple individuals, both adults and juveniles, and both male and female. At least one instance of a healed traumatic injury is visible in one of the mummified individuals. This preliminary study is intended to establish a foundation for future research regarding the life histories of these individuals.

EKSISTENSI PURA DALEM DI DESA PAKRAMAN JULAH KECAMATAN TEJAKULA KABUPATEN BULELENG

<p><em>The temple is a holy place of Hindu religion to worship and connect to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi and all His manifestations. Pura Dalem in Desa Pakraman Julah is a group of Pura Kahyangan Tiga in Desa Pakraman Julah. Pura Dalem Julah has a uniqueness that is from the history of the founding of the temple which is believed to have existed long before Mpu Kuturan conduct pasamuan in Pura Samuan Tiga. Another uniqueness seen from the temple structure that does not use the concept of Tri Mandala and when the piodalan not use all kinds of types of facilities in rolling and piodalan activities should not be until the night. Based on the background of the problem can be formulated problems as follows: (1) How the existence of Pura Dalem in Pakraman Julah Village, Tejakula District, Buleleng District, (2) How Pura Dalem Function in Pakraman Julah Village (3) The Meaning of Pura Dalem in Pakraman Village Julah.</em></p><p><em>In this study using three theories, namely: (1) the theory of existentialism, (2) structural functional theory and (3) the theory of religion. This research is a qualitative field research. Data collection methods were conducted in three ways, namely (1) observation, (2) interview and (3) library study. This research is presented in the form of descriptive or narrative is creative and deep.</em></p><p><em>The results obtained are: Existence Pura Dalem in Pakraman Village Julah can not be separated from a very long history. The existence of Pura Dalem is believed by the Julah community to have a very important role to maintain the harmony of the Julah community. Pura Dalem is divided into three parts: Pura Dalem Kawitan, Pura Dalem Beneh / Bali, and Pura Dalem Jawa. Pura Dalem Julah has several functions namely social function, unifying function of ummah as well as religious function. The meaning contained in Pura Dalem is the meaning of ethics, aesthetics and the meaning of harmony. Pura Dalem has a very important role for the community Julah.</em></p><p><em> </em></p>