Editing Architecture of India (section)

=== Hellenistic influence ===
{{See also | Hellenistic influence on Indian art }}

The [[Greek conquests in India]] under [[Alexander the Great]] were limited in time (327–326 BCE) and in extent, but they had extensive long term effects as Greeks settled for centuries at the doorstep of India. After these events, the Greeks (described as [[Yona]] or [[Yavana]] in Indian sources from the Greek "[[Ionians|Ionian]]") were able to maintain a structured presence at the door of India for about three centuries, through the [[Seleucid Empire]] and the [[Greco-Bactrian kingdom]], down to the time of the [[Indo-Greek kingdoms]], which ended sometimes in the 1st century CE.

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| image1 = Pataliputra capital, Bihar Museum, Patna, 3rd century BCE.jpg
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During that time, the city of [[Ai-Khanoum]], capital of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the cities of [[Sirkap]], were founded in what is now Pakistan on the Greek [[Hippodamian]] grid plan, and [[Sagala]], now located in Pakistan 10&nbsp;km from the border with India, interacted heavily with the Indian subcontinent. It is considered that Ai-Khanoum and Sirkap may have been primary actors in transmitting Western artistic influence to India, for example in the creation of the quasi-Ionic [[Pataliputra capital]] or the floral friezes of the [[Pillars of Ashoka]]. Numerous Greek ambassadors, such as [[Megasthenes]], [[Deimachus]] and [[Dionysius (ambassador)|Dionysius]], stayed at the Mauryan court in Pataliputra.

During the Maurya period (c. 321–185 BCE), and especially during the time of Emperor [[Ashoka]] (c.268–232 BCE), Hellenistic influence seems to have played a role in the establishment of Indian monumental stone architecture. Excavations in the ancient palace of [[Pataliputra]] have brought to light Hellenistic sculptural works, and Hellenistic influence appear in the [[Pillars of Ashoka]] at about the same period.

During that period, several instance of artistic influence are known, particular in the area of monumental stone sculpture and statuary, an area with no known precedents in India. The main period of stone architectural creation seems to correspond to the period of Ashoka's reign. Before that, Indians had a tradition of wooden architecture, remains of wooden palisades were discovered at archaeological sites in [[Pataliputra]], confirmed the Classical accounts.

The first examples of stone architecture were also found in the palace compound of Pataliputra, with the distinctly Hellenistic [[Pataliputra capital]] and a pillared hall using polished-stone columns. The other remarkable example of monumental stone architecture is that of the [[Pillars of Ashoka]], themselves displaying Hellenistic influence. There is also very early stone architecture in the palace at [[Kosambi]], including true arches used in the underground chambers, from the last phase of the palace in the 1st or 2nd century CE.<ref>Gosh, A. (1964). ''Indian Archaeology: A review 1961-62'', New Delhi, Archaeological survey of India, pp. 50–52, [https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%201961-62%20A%20Review.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417031955/http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/nmma_doc/Indian%20Archaeology%20Review/Indian%20Archaeology%201961-62%20A%20Review.pdf |date=17 April 2021 }}; Harle, 43</ref>

==== Pataliputra capital ====
The [[Pataliputra capital]] is a monumental rectangular [[Capital (architecture)|capital]] with [[volute]]s and [[Classical Greece|Classical]] designs, that was discovered in the palace ruins of the ancient [[Mauryan Empire]] capital city of [[Pataliputra]] (modern [[Patna]], northeastern India). It is dated to the 3rd century BCE. It is, together with the [[Pillars of Ashoka]] one of the first known examples of Indian stone architecture, as no Indian stone monuments or sculptures are known from before that period. It is also one of the first archaeological clues suggesting Hellenistic influence on the arts of India, in this case sculptural palatial art.

==== Pillars of Ashoka ====
{{multiple image
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| image1 = N-BR-39 Ashokan Pillar Vaishali (8).jpg
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| caption1 = [[Pillars of Ashoka|Ashokan Pillar]] in [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]]
| image2 = Naxos Sphinx with humans for size.jpg
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| caption2 = [[Sphinx of Naxos]] at [[Delphi]]
}}The [[Pillars of Ashoka]] were built during the reign of the [[Maurya Empire]] [[Ashoka]] c. 250 BCE. They were new attempts at mastering stone architecture, as no Indian stone monuments or sculptures are known from before that period.

There are altogether seven remaining capitals, five with lions, one with an elephant and one with a [[zebu]] bull. One of them, the four lions of [[Sarnath]], has become the [[State Emblem of India]].

The animal capitals are composed of a [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotiform]] base, with an [[Abacus (architecture)|abacus]] decorated with floral, symbolic or animal designs, topped by the realistic depiction of an animal, thought to each represent a traditional direction in India. Greek columns of the 6th century BCE such as the [[Sphinx of Naxos]], a {{convert|12.5|m|adj=on}} Ionic column crowned by a sitting animal in the religious centre of [[Delphi]], may have been an inspiration for the pillars of Ashoka.

===== Flame palmette =====
The [[flame palmette]], central decorative element of the Pataliputra pillar is considered as a purely Greek motif. The first appearance of "flame palmettes" goes back to the stand-alone floral [[Acroterion|akroteria]] of the [[Parthenon]] (447–432 BCE), and slightly later at the [[Temple of Athena Nike]].

Flame palmettes were then introduced into friezes of floral motifs in replacement of the regular palmette. Flame palmettes are used extensively in India floral friezes, starting with the floral friezes on the capitals of the pillar of Ashoka, and they are likely to have originated with Greek or Near Eastern art. A monumental flame palmette can be seen on the top of the [[Sunga]] gateway at [[Bharhut]].