Mauryan art and architecture: pillars, stupas, and stone sculpture (c. 322–185 BCE)

1. Chandragupta consolidates Mauryan power in Magadha

   Jan 1, 322 BCELabels: Chandragupta Maurya, Pataliputra

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

2. Ashoka’s reign begins; imperial building patronage expands

   Jan 1, 268 BCELabels: Ashoka, Imperial patronage

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

3. Barabar Hill caves dedicated to Ajivikas

   Jan 1, 257 BCELabels: Barabar Hill, Ajivikas

   • Barabar Caves
   • Mauryan art

4. Lion Capital installed on Sarnath pillar

   Jan 1, 250 BCELabels: Lion Capital, Sarnath

   • ORIAS
   • Lion Capital

5. Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned

   Jan 1, 250 BCELabels: Great Stupa, Ashoka

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

6. Ashokan pillars proliferate with edicts

   Jan 1, 249 BCELabels: Ashokan pillars, Edicts

   • Pillars
   • Minor Edicts

7. Rampurva bull capital carved for Ashokan pillar

   Jan 1, 245 BCELabels: Rampurva bull, Ashokan capital

   • Rampurva
   • Pillars

8. Nagarjuni caves dedicated under Dasharatha

   Jan 1, 230 BCELabels: Nagarjuni Caves, Dasharatha

   • Barabar Caves
   • Dasharatha

9. Pataliputra palace capital shows Hellenistic-inspired motifs

   Jan 1, 230 BCELabels: Pataliputra capital, Hellenistic motifs

   • Pataliputra
   • Waddell 1903

10. Mauryan polish becomes a courtly sculptural hallmark

    Jan 1, 225 BCELabels: Mauryan polish, Court sculpture

    • Mauryan art
    • Lion Capital

11. Mauryan state wanes; production centers persist

    Jan 1, 185 BCELabels: Mauryan state, Successor polities

    • Britannica
    • Mauryan art

12. Bharhut stupa railings develop Buddhist narrative reliefs

    Jan 1, 150 BCELabels: Bharhut stupa, Shunga period

    • Britannica
    • Met Museum