Frieze of elephants
Dynasty : Western Chalukya
Period : Late Medieval 1000 CE
Material : Stone
Location : National Museum
Current Location : National Museum
Description :
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. It is commonly called Western Chalukyas to differentiate from the contemporaneous Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, a separate dynasty. They developed an architectural style known today as a transitional style, an architectural link between the style of the early Chalukya dynasty and that of the later Hoyasala Empire. Western Chalukyas ushered in an important period in the development of fine arts in Southern India, especially in literature as the Western Chalukya kings encouraged writers in the native language of Kannada and Sanskrit.
This is a frieze showing a row of three elephants facing to the left one behind the other. The animals are caparisoned and their postures suggest movement. There is a four-petalled flower motif on the base in front.