The term 'Pendentive' refers to which form of Indian architecture ?
- A.A building/temple which tends to be broader and shorter than Latina type
- B.A triangular bracket in the angle of two walls, connecting the base of the dome to its supporting arches
- C.Drum house from where ceremonial music was played which was usually situated over the gate
- D.Many curves in an arch
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, A triangular bracket in the angle of two walls, connecting the base of the dome to its supporting arches. A pendentive is the curved triangular piece in the corner of a square room that carries the round base of a dome down onto the arches below.
A dome is round, but the hall beneath it is usually square. Builders bridged the gap at the four corners either with pendentives or with squinches, small arches set across the corners. This technique came to India with the Turks and became a mark of Indo-Islamic buildings of the Sultanate and Mughal periods, along with the true arch, lime mortar and calligraphy. It allowed large domes such as those of Humayun's Tomb and the Gol Gumbaz to rest on square bases.
A is wrong because a temple broader and shorter than the Latina type describes the Phamsana form of the Nagara style. C is wrong because the drum house over a gate is the naqqar khana, or naubat khana. D is wrong because an arch with many curves is a cusped or multifoil arch.
Exam tip: Pendentive and squinch carry a dome on a square base; naqqar khana = drum house; Phamsana = broad, short Nagara roof.
Practice Questions
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