Cyclopean Wall of Rajgir

The Cyclopean Wall of Rajgir is a 40 km (25 mi) long wall of stone which encircled the ancient city of Rajgriha (present-day Rajgir), in the Indian state of Bihar, to protect it from external enemies and invaders. It is among the oldest examples of cyclopean masonry in the world.

Cyclopean Wall of Rajgir which encircled the former capital of Magadha

Cyclopean Wall of Rajgir
General information
Town or cityRajgir
CountryIndia
Estimated completionc. 600 BCE to c. 400 BCE
AffiliationArcheological Survey of India (ASI)

History

It was erected by the early Magadha rulers using massive undressed stones. The walls are also mentioned in Buddhist works.[1]

Condition

Only some portions of it remain. Most of the original structure has disappeared with time. The wall is currently designated as a national monument, and the Bihar Archaeological Department has recommended to the Archaeological Survey of India that it should be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which was achieved in 1987.[2][3]

Characteristics

The wall is a type of stonework built with massive limestone boulders, roughly filled together with minimal clearance between adjacent stones and no use of mortar. The boulders typically seem unworked, but some may have been shaped with a hammer.

References
  1. Walker, Benjamin (2019). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 62. ISBN 9780429624216.
  2. Sopam, Reena (3 June 2019). "Push to get Mauryan-age wall at Rajgir, Unesco heritage status". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. Nadim, Farrukh (28 November 2017). "Declare Cyclopean Wall as heritage site: CM Nitish Kumar". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 April 2022.

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