DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53064#0026
20
The building is much of the same type, octagonal and with a
very broad cupola. But it shows the influence of Akbar’s
buildings at Agra in the decoration and the inlaid marble
dados.
The later Moghul tombs are built on a large scale, but
do not have the touch of a final conception which distingui-
shes Humayun’s mausoleum. Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra is
a very rich building.1 After an insufficient beginning it was
finished in 1608-13 by his son Jahangir. It is situated in an
enormous garden. The walls of it, measuring each about
31 furlongs, are like fortifications with towers and battle-
ments. In the middle of each side a monumental gate
house is placed. But only that to the south is a real gateway
with deep recesses and a beautiful entrance gate. It has a
certain relation to the appearance of Humayun’s tomb.
The three others are false gates without doors. The preva-
lent decoration on all the gatehouses is geometric and formed
by inlaying dark stones into white marble. But it is of great
consequence that the background of the west false gate is
filled with a decoration showing flat and purposeless imita-
tions of the small deep niches as occur elsewhere.
In the middle of this enclosure stands a square platform,
the sides of which measure nearly 500 feet. This is the
basis of the mausoleum proper. -It is four stories high, each
surrounded by arcades with numberless columns, which are
very slim and graceful. Fayence mosaics, very rich and in
marvellous patterns, decorate these open arcades. Akbar’s
tombstone of white marble and richly decorated is placed
in the top storey. The lofty structure, being without walls
and completely open, reminds more of the gaiety of a
summer-house than of the sombre idea of a tomb.
Comparatively similar to the south entrance to Akbar’s
tomb is the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-daulah,2 who was
Jahangir’s Prime Minister and the father of the celebrated
Nur Jahan. He died in 1621 and the mausoleum was
finished in 1628, The central building is decorated entirely
with Persian and geometric patterns inlaid with precious
stones. Four chhatris mark the corners. The centre is
emphasised by a rectangular pavilion, which stands in the
1. Edmund. W. Smith. Akbar’s tomb. Sikandarah. Allahabad.
1909.
2. Edmund. W. Smith. Moghul Colour decoration of Agra Allaha-
bad. 1901. pg. 18.
The building is much of the same type, octagonal and with a
very broad cupola. But it shows the influence of Akbar’s
buildings at Agra in the decoration and the inlaid marble
dados.
The later Moghul tombs are built on a large scale, but
do not have the touch of a final conception which distingui-
shes Humayun’s mausoleum. Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra is
a very rich building.1 After an insufficient beginning it was
finished in 1608-13 by his son Jahangir. It is situated in an
enormous garden. The walls of it, measuring each about
31 furlongs, are like fortifications with towers and battle-
ments. In the middle of each side a monumental gate
house is placed. But only that to the south is a real gateway
with deep recesses and a beautiful entrance gate. It has a
certain relation to the appearance of Humayun’s tomb.
The three others are false gates without doors. The preva-
lent decoration on all the gatehouses is geometric and formed
by inlaying dark stones into white marble. But it is of great
consequence that the background of the west false gate is
filled with a decoration showing flat and purposeless imita-
tions of the small deep niches as occur elsewhere.
In the middle of this enclosure stands a square platform,
the sides of which measure nearly 500 feet. This is the
basis of the mausoleum proper. -It is four stories high, each
surrounded by arcades with numberless columns, which are
very slim and graceful. Fayence mosaics, very rich and in
marvellous patterns, decorate these open arcades. Akbar’s
tombstone of white marble and richly decorated is placed
in the top storey. The lofty structure, being without walls
and completely open, reminds more of the gaiety of a
summer-house than of the sombre idea of a tomb.
Comparatively similar to the south entrance to Akbar’s
tomb is the mausoleum of Itimad-ud-daulah,2 who was
Jahangir’s Prime Minister and the father of the celebrated
Nur Jahan. He died in 1621 and the mausoleum was
finished in 1628, The central building is decorated entirely
with Persian and geometric patterns inlaid with precious
stones. Four chhatris mark the corners. The centre is
emphasised by a rectangular pavilion, which stands in the
1. Edmund. W. Smith. Akbar’s tomb. Sikandarah. Allahabad.
1909.
2. Edmund. W. Smith. Moghul Colour decoration of Agra Allaha-
bad. 1901. pg. 18.