Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
Chola Temple Builders: The Guilds That Shaped Stone
The Chola Empire's staggering stone temples weren't built by royal decree alone. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the forgotten network of artisan guilds — stonemasons, ironworkers, woodcarvers, and bronze casters who organized into hereditary worker councils called peruntaram and cheri. Drawing on temple inscriptions from Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Darasuram, we uncover how these guilds operated: they bid for temple contracts, maintained quality standards, passed down secret techniques, and even staged strikes. We follow the career of a master sculptor named…
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