Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
The Chola-Era Tamil Sthapatis Who Cast Nataraja
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of the sthapatis—the master sculptors of the Chola Empire—who perfected the lost-wax casting of bronze Nataraja and other deities. We trace the lives of these artisans, the patronage of queens like Sembiyan Mahadevi, and the workshops of places like Thiruvalangadu. We also discuss the broader cultural and ritual contexts of these bronzes, from temple processions to the creation of portable icons for private devotion. Specific inscriptions and known sthapatis are named, as well as the precision of the iconometric guidelines in texts like the…
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