Who is Ashoka of the Maurya Empire?
Who was Ashoka of the Maurya empire, and why did he erect a stone pillar crowned with lions? This video answers these questions about the important ruler of the Maurya empire and more. We explain who Ashoka was, why he was important in Indian and Buddhist history, and why he erected stone pillars with beautiful carved capitals across his empire. Today, one of those capitals, the lion capital at Sarnath, is India’s national emblem. We take a close look at the lion capital and analyze the meaning of its different features.
This video is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about:
Early Buddhist art
History of India
Buddhism
Historical people
Art History
Speaker: Dr. Cortney Chaffin Kim
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction 0:21 Who is Ashoka of the Maurya Empire, and why did he erect a stone pillar crowned with lions? 2:00 Ashoka’s lion capital at Sarnath 2:31 Looking closely at the lion capital at Sarnath
Learn more
Discover more about Ancient South Asia: https://www.artsq.org/ancient-south-asia
Check out our entire glossary of art history: https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history