Question

Testimonies to adopting Persian stone carving techniques in India during the Mauryan period-
(A) Large three-dimensional figurative supports for the roof.
(B) Independent edict pillars with bell-shaped capitals, surmounted by the animal figure.
(C) Replica of wooden structures.
(D) Cylindrical shapes in architectural structures.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• (A) and (C) only
• (D) and (A) only
• (A) and (B) only
• (B) and (C) only

Hint:

The "Mauryan Polish" and the bell-shaped capital on Ashokan pillars are the classic textbook examples of Persian Achaemenid influence on Indian art.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Define key traits of Mauryan stone art and architecture, notably monumental stone pillars and early rock-cut architecture.
Step 2: Establish links between these traits and Achaemenid (Persian) influence.

(B) The most compelling evidence of Persian influence is the concept of monolithic, highly polished pillars with bell-shaped (or inverted lotus) capitals and animal finials, similar to pillars at Persepolis.
(C) Early Indian stone architecture's practice of replicating wooden forms in stone. The monumental stone carving advancement is often connected to the skills and ideas brought by Alexander the Great's campaigns and contact with the Persian empire.

Step 3: Assess alternative options. (A) and (D) lack specificity regarding Persian influence within the Mauryan context. The combination of unique pillars and the shift from wood to stone offers the strongest support for the connection.