Taq-i-Kasra (translated as "The Arch of Khosrow"), now a ruined ancient city, 32 km SE of Baghdad, Iraq (part of Persian Empire, called Ctesiphon then); was constructed at the Sassanid era, Persian Empire Dynasty (224-651 CE.) Legend has it that locals swore that the magnificent vault was the work of genies. The structure was abandoned after Islamic forces defeated the mighty Persian Empire in the 7th century.The height of the people watching the Taq in the picture may be a good scale to show the approximate span and height of the arch. The young structural engineers should notice that when this shell was designed and built, there were no computers, finite elements, theory of plates and shells, and nothing but engineering talent, touch and judgement.
Yes, a wonderful antique art.
ReplyDeleteLike Beethoven, who could listen through his divine ears, they built oversensitive engineering.
Good to see both in the same great weblog.
Roseane