Animals in stone; Indian mammals sculptured through time.

9789004168190

Animals in stone; Indian mammals sculptured through time.

Geer, Alexandra Anna Enrica van der.

BRILL

2008

461 pages

$249.00

Hardcover

Handbook of oriental studies. Section 2, South Asia; 21

NB1940

In her introduction, Van de Geer (paleontology and historical geology, National University, Athens, Greece) states that this amazing study of Indian animal carvings might be of interest to zoologists, Indologists and art historians. She very much underestimates the breadth of the work she has done. Examining sculptures of animals from pre-historic time to the present, she arranges her study by animal. For each she gives zoological, cultural, and religious information, explaining its place in the landscape of India and when necessary, telling how close it is to extinction. She then describes specific sculptures and shows how they reflect various aspects of how the animal is viewed in Hindu tradition, drawing on her knowledge of Sanskrit to understand the narrative references found in the representations. The book has hundreds of illustrations of the art and of the living animals. Anthropologists, geologists, sociologists, cultural historians and anyone wishing to understand India better will find this book enchanting. This is a sterling example of the best form of inter- disciplinary research.

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