Discuss how the architecture and decoration of the Taj Mahal exemplify its function.
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. The Taj Mahal was constructed as a tomb for Shah Jahan and his favorite wife.
2. The building appears to hover above the gardens, the design of which symbolizes the gardens of paradise as described by the Qur’an.
3. Surrounding the doorway arch of the central iwan, which marks the location of the tombs, a calligraphic inscription from the Qur’an describes the afterlife.
4. The marble surface, bulb-shaped dome, and paper-thin arched openings of the building further suggest the otherworldly symbolism of the Taj Mahal.
You might also like to view...
This American composer was born in West Virginia and is known for a series of songs setting the Spanish poetry of Frederico García Lorca
A) Steve Reich B) George Crumb C) Joan Tower D) John Adams
What is the instrumental makeup of a piano trio?
A. Violin, cello, and piano B. Piano, voice, and violin C. Piano, harpsichord, and organ D. Three pianos
Which belief was central to the philosophical school of Stoicism?
A) ?the importance of an afterlife B) ?the acceptance of all situations C) ?the existence of an all-powerful being called the One D) ?it is wise to seek pleasure
Shamona, a pregnant mother in Flint, Michigan, is concerned about the drinking water, which shows high levels of lead. Shamona should know that high levels of prenatal lead exposure are related to ________
A) facial abnormalities and heart defects B) defects of the genitals and urinary tract C) low birth weight and brain damage D) a variety of childhood cancers