LIONS, Mamallapuram (2004.12.26) (Cave of the)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The December 2004 tsunami revealed a man-made, monolithic Pallava period (7th to 8th century CE) 'cave temple' (man-made rock chamber used for religious purposes) excavated from a single, isolated boulder and charaterised by a -bear- (note 1) framing the entrance and holding, with it's fore paws on the lintel edges, the upright rectangular entrance from behind (ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA 2005.02.12, one monochrome photograph without scale) -- like chakra wheel holders do. The monolithic rock chamber proper is guarded by two lions, which, carved from their own isolated boulders, lie across sort of an ante- threshold at some distance in front of the temple (SCHMITT, C 2005, colour photograph). Both -lions- face away from the sea and towards the visitor approaching visitor arriving from the land.The December 2004 tsunami revealed a man-made, monolithic Pallava period (7th to 8th century CE) 'cave temple' (man-made rock chamber used for religious purposes) excavated from a single, isolated boulder and charaterised by a -bear- (note 1) framing the entrance and holding, with it's fore paws on the lintel edges, the upright rectangular entrance from behind (ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA 2005.02.12, one monochrome photograph without scale) -- like chakra wheel holders do. The monolithic rock chamber proper is guarded by two lions, which, carved from their own isolated boulders, lie across sort of an ante- threshold at some distance in front of the temple (SCHMITT, C 2005, colour photograph). Both -lions- face away from the sea and towards the visitor approaching visitor arriving from the land.