Static Quiz 20 May 2025 (Art and Culture)

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1: Incorrect. The Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur (11th century CE) is famous for its Towering gopurams (gateway towers) .
• Statement 2: Correct. Chola bronze sculptures, particularly the Nataraja (dancing Shiva), are renowned for their intricate craftsmanship, achieved through the lost-wax technique, and are iconic examples of Chola art.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1: Correct. The Ellora caves (6th–10th century CE) were patronized by multiple dynasties, including the Rashtrakutas (e.g., Kailasa temple), Chalukyas, and others, featuring Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monuments.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. The Sun Temple at Konark (13th century CE) is an example of the Kalinga style of architecture, specific to Odisha, not the Dravida style, which is characterized by curvilinear shikhara towers in North India.
• Statement 3: Correct. The Gandhara school of art (1st–5th century CE) was heavily influenced by Greco-Roman traditions, evident in realistic human forms, draped clothing, and motifs like the halo in Buddhist sculptures.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1: Correct. The Amravati Stupa (2nd century BCE–3rd century CE) in Andhra Pradesh is renowned for its intricate limestone carvings depicting Buddhist narratives, such as Jataka tales and scenes from the Buddha’s life.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. The Bharhut Stupa was constructed during the Shunga period (2nd–1st century BCE), not the Gupta period. While Ashoka (a Mauryan ruler) promoted Buddhism,
• Statement 3: Correct. Stupas were primarily built as reliquary mounds to enshrine relics of the Buddha or other significant Buddhist figures, such

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
• Statement 1: Correct. Punch-marked coins, used during the Mauryan period (4th–2nd century BCE), were typically made of silver and occasionally copper, featuring symbols like animals, trees, and geometric shapes stamped on them.
• Statement 2: Correct. Kushana coins (1st–3rd century CE), under rulers like Kanishka, introduced ruler portraits, a practice influenced by Roman and Hellenistic coinage traditions, alongside deities and Buddhist symbols.

Correct Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Explanation:
• Maurya – Chandragupta: Correct. Chandragupta Maurya (r. 321–297 BCE) was the founder of the Mauryan Empire, unifying much of India.
• Gupta – Samudragupta: Correct. Samudragupta (r. 335–375 CE), known as the “Napoleon of India,” was a prominent Gupta ruler, expanding the empire through military conquests.
• Satavahana – Pulakesin II: Incorrect. Pulakesin II was a ruler of the Chalukya dynasty (7th century CE), not the Satavahana dynasty. A notable Satavahana ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni (1st–2nd century CE).