1914 - Battle of the Falkland Island: British Royal Navy destroys a German battle squadron 1952 - First TV acknowledgment of a pregnancy in the "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy is Enceinte," which incorporates Lucy's real-life pregnancy into the storyline 1961 - Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 78 points in a 151-147 triple-overtime defeat to the LA Lakers at Philadelphia Civic Center, the third-highest individual game total in NBA history 1982 - "Sophie's Choice", directed by Alan J. Pakula and based on William Styton's 1979 novel of the same name, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, is released (Academy Awards Best Actress 1983) 2004 - Cuzco Declaration is signed in Cuzco, Peru, establishing the Union of South American Nations 2019 - Sanna Marin becomes Finland's youngest-ever Prime Minister at the age of 34 2022 - Iran announces first known execution of a protester from recent anti-government unrest, after convicting a man in a revolutionary court of "moharebeh" (enmity against God) 2024 - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resigns and flees to Moscow after rebel forces sweep into the capital city of Damascus More Historical Events »

  When we speak about the Celts, our thoughts often wander to folk tales of druids from the British Isles. However, few people know they traveled across Europe and settled in distant locations, such as present-day Portugal and Spain.   In this article, you will learn about the Celtic heritage of Portugal and where to find the most mesmerizing Celtic monuments.   Where Did the Celts Come From? The Celts in Europe, dark green areas, are still Celtic-speaking today. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Celts lived in Europe from the Bronze to the Iron Age (700 BCE to 400 CE) and occupied vast territories ranging from present-day Turkey to Portugal.   Historical evidence shows that the people we call the Celts included several tribes that never established a unified state. That is why some academics agree that the term “Celt” is an umbrella for all the people who used to speak Celtic languages and showed other similarities in art, religion, and funerary rituals.   However, the most widely accepted theory is that the Celts have their origins in Hallstatt.   Hallstatt is an archaeological site in Austria dating from the Bronze Age. Over the years, archaeological evidence has revealed Celtic settlements from the 8th to the 6th centuries BCE. Eventually, these people migrated and settled in western Austria, southern Germany, and France. During this period, tribes in Hallstatt enjoyed salt, iron, and copper deposits, allowing them to establish prosperous commercial trade with distant tribes. Trade, tribal alliances, and weddings also allowed the Hallstatt culture to spread across Europe.   The Celtic Arrival in the Iberian Peninsula Ethnic groups in the Iberian Peninsula prior to the Roman conquest. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The first Celts arrived in the Iberian Peninsula between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE and settled in present-day North and Central Portugal and Spain.   Most academics believe that during this migration process, the Celts interacted with local tribes, such as the Iberians and the Lusitanians, resulting in the miscegenation of tribes and the development of the Celtiberian people. Evidence has led academics to think the Celts imposed their presence on the Iberian tribes, thus influencing each other culturally and resulting in a Celtiberian culture. Regardless of the nature of the Celts’ interaction with the Iberian people, archaeologists have found evidence of common elements between the Celtiberians and the Hallstatt culture.   One piece of evidence is the “castros,” fortified hillforts built to defend settlements, provide a natural defense system, and control the surrounding countryside. These fortifications were usually located near water, contoured the hills, and included stone ramparts, stockades, and ditches. However, the Celts also built water reservoirs that could be used during a siege. These settlements were often surrounded by several lines of loose stone walls.   Inside the hillfort were circular and, sometimes, rectangular buildings. These structures were made of local stone and had thatched roofs supported by wooden beams. The house floors were made of natural soil or boiled argyle.   Although the Celtic tribes in the Iberian Peninsula lived in a warlike atmosphere, most of these hillforts were only used as a refuge.   On the other hand, the “civitas” were larger fortified settlements permanently inhabited with a regular street layout, revealing a high level of social organization. The paved narrow streets are aligned with small and large residences beside workshops, revealing well-thought-out urban planning.   Aerial photograph of Citânia de Briteiros, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Some “civitas” had an interior, upper-walled space with a few buildings scholars call the acropolis. These oppida were surrounded by concentric moats and stone walls reinforced with towers. The doors of these oppida were monumental and often featured sculptures of warriors. The oppidium living areas were walled, with kitchens, sheds, barns, workshops, and rooms arranged around a paved inner courtyard equipped with fountains, drains, and wells.   Archaeological excavations in the North of Portugal reveal ceramics and metalwork showing influences from Greek, Italic, and Tartessian people. The pottery found has allowed archaeologists to understand the people’s daily life and how these artifacts were developed. These vessels were often decorated with concentric circles, double SS, and shield motifs.   Archaeologists have also retrieved metal artifacts, such as axes, sickles, spears, and daggers, that reveal the incredible expertise of Celtic blacksmiths. Among these objects are also fibulae, torques, and viriae.   When the Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula during the 2nd century BCE, these Celtic tribes were progressively Romanized. Over time, the “castros” were abandoned as people gathered in non-fortified settlements located in valleys.   The Celtic Legacy in Portugal   The Minho region is the best area to explore Portugal’s Celtic heritage. Although scholars have yet to determine the exact number, they believe there were over 4,000 Celtic settlements in this area. Below, you will find the best locations to discover Portugal’s Celtic past.   Citânia de Briteiros House in Citania de Briteiros, Guimarães, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Citânia de Briteiros is a Celtic archaeological site from the Iron Age, located a few miles from Guimarães. Classified as a National Monument since 1910, Briteiros is one of the largest and most well-preserved fortified settlements in Portugal.   Why is this location so important? Besides being one of the largest hillforts in the Iberian Peninsula, it shows a complex urban layout with residential neighborhoods and public areas such as an acropolis and public baths.   Located at 336 meters (1,102 feet) of altitude and covering an area of 24 hectares, Citânia de Briteiros was built here to allow its inhabitants visual control of the surrounding area and easy access to the river.   At Citânia de Briteiros, the defensive walls were adjusted to the natural geography and adapted to the settlement’s growth. The Celts built four lines of walls supported by several ditches. The three main walls were concentric and converged to the north, while the inner wall surrounded the acropolis area. The fourth wall was located northeast of the hillfort to protect a more vulnerable area. As for its size, archaeologists believe these walls were two to three meters (six to ten feet) wide and about two meters tall (six to seven feet).   The acropolis was the settlement’s main area and included several residential buildings, public baths, and the “Casa do Conselho.” The streets form small clusters similar to modern-day city blocks.   The main street, which was the longest, ran from the southwest to the north, starting near the public baths and ending in the highest part of the town. From here ran several secondary streets, which separated the neighborhoods.   Citânia de Briteiros by JLR Sousa, 2023. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Most houses showed a circular floor plan and housed extended families. However, each family had a small complex of buildings with different functions surrounded by a wall. The rectangular buildings were used as warehouses to store tools and food. On the other hand, the residential buildings, found in the highest area of the acropolis, were inhabited by the wealthiest and most important families.   In the center of Citânia de Briteiros, archaeologists found an 11-meter (36 feet) diameter circular building with a stone bench inside. Due to its size and location, they identified it as the “Casa do Conselho,” a Celtic roundhouse where the elders would meet. Another theory suggests this was also the place where feasts took place.   The bathhouses are another important structure at Citânia de Briteiros. Outside the residential area were two bathhouses. The bathhouse to the southwest has been best preserved. Here, you can see the atrium, where the tanks, antechamber, and main chamber were located, as well as an oven. The eastern bathhouse was a relatively large building that included stables, warehouses, and workshops.   At Museu da Cultura Castreja, you can admire the impressive collection of pottery, glass, and metallic artifacts retrieved from Citânia de Briteiros.   Citânia de Sabroso Engraving of a house door, which was discovered by Martins Sarmento during archaeological work in the hillfort de Sabroso, 1879. Source: Digital Newspaper Library, Lisbon   At a short distance from Citânia de Briteiros is another significant Celtic settlement: Citânia de Sabroso.   This archaeological site, classified as a National Monument, includes a group of around 39 circular and rectangular houses surrounded by walls. Due to their size, these walls are considered one of the most monumental pre-Roman complexes in Portugal’s northern region. It was inhabited during the second half of the first millennium BCE, during the Iron Age.   Located at 270 meters (885 feet) of altitude and covering an area of three hectares, Citânia de Sabroso enjoyed easy access to several streams and the surrounding plains. Archaeologists believe that due to its location and much smaller size than the Citânia de Briteiros, Sabroso’s may have served as an advanced outpost to Briteiros.   Considering the small and heavily fortified walls, some archaeologists suggest Sabroso might have been a settlement for the local elites or a religious site. This last hypothesis comes from the discovery of a boulder with a decorated cavity that might have been used as an altar.   At Citânia de Sabroso, archaeologists found two lines of sloped defensive granite walls in a polygonal shape. These four-meter-thick (13 feet) walls cover a perimeter of almost 400 meters (1,300 feet), reaching five meters (16 feet) high. Most of these walls have remained intact, except for a few sections demolished in the 20th century. To access the town, there were two gates, one to the north and the other to the south.   Inside the lines of walls, archaeologists found 39 residential buildings, most of them with a circular floor plan. The few rectangular-shaped houses were part of a different structure that included a cistern. However, contrary to the Briteiro’s urban layout, at Sabroso the streets followed an irregular design surrounding the houses.   Cividade de Terroso Cividade de Terroso, by Jose Olgon, 2008. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Cividade de Terroso was one of the most prosperous Celtic settlements in the Iberian Peninsula.   Located in Póvoa de Varzim, its closeness to the ocean allowed commercial trade with other Mediterranean people. During the Punic Wars, the Romans learned about the wealth of gold and tin at Cividade de Terroso. As a result, Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus led a campaign to dominate the region, which destroyed Cividade. A few years later, the settlement was rebuilt and Romanized. Nevertheless, it is still possible to admire the settlement’s Celtic features.   Cividade de Terroso was built at 152 meters (498 feet) of altitude. This location was chosen to protect its inhabitants from enemy tribes. The result is a heavily fortified hillfort with three lines of walls surrounding the acropolis. The walls were built in different periods, according to the settlement’s growth. Builders used large stone blocks without mortar while following the hill’s geography. Cividade de Terroso went through several construction phases.   Door stone in Cividade de Terroso. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In its early beginnings, small dwellings were built from clay mixed with plants. The first stone constructions only appeared in the 5th century BCE, thanks to the Phoenicians, who brought a new construction technique using iron spikes to the Iberian Peninsula.   Most buildings from this period have a circular shape with a diameter between four and five meters (13 to 16 feet) and walls 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) thick. The granite stones were fractured or chipped and then positioned in two rows, with the smoother side facing the exterior and interior of the house. The space between the two stones was filled with smaller stones and gravel mortar, giving the walls a robust structure.   Warrior statue from Northeast Portugal, 1st century CE. Source: National Museum of Portuguese Archaeology   As the Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula, Cividade entered its last construction phase. An urban reorganization changed the buildings’ shape and dimensions, resulting in new quadrangular houses with tegula roofs.   Inside the city walls, archaeologists found funerary enclosures, which are very rare in Celtic settlements in Portugal. Moreover, archaeological excavations found several houses with patios and two main streets. At its height, Cividade covered an area of twelve hectares.   The residential buildings were made of four or five circular rooms surrounded by a slabbed courtyard where the doors of the different rooms converged. These central courtyards played an important role in family life and were where daily family activities took place.   The buildings from the second construction phase, before the Roman Era, used thin clay or gravel. Some of these floors were decorated with rope printing, wavy designs, and circle printing, especially in the fireplaces. In the Roman-influenced phase, these floors became denser and thicker.   While visiting Cividade de Terroso, you should also explore the Núcleo Interpretativo to learn more about the archaeological findings. At Museu Municipal de Póvoa de Varzim, you will find an extensive collection of artifacts retrieved from several archaeological campaigns at Cividade de Terroso.Terroso.

  Japanese Buddhist temples serve numerous functions, from giving shape to the ideas of Buddhist faith, to differentiating the belief system from Shinto, thus giving it its own, unique identity. Moreover, Japanese temples are simply beautiful in a majestic and often ornate way, dazzling visitors with deep colors, glistening metal, and unbelievably grand structures, though that ultimately depends on their style. The best way to understand the splendor of Japanese Buddhist temples is to go visit them in person. Hopefully, though, this guide can be a close second.   Fundamental Differences Between Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples Moiwayama Shrine on Mount Moiwa in Sapporo, by Ermell, 2009. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Japan’s current religious landscape has been shaped by the centuries-long coexistence of Shinto, the indigenous animistic belief with roots possibly dating to prehistory, and Buddhism, introduced from India via China and Korea in the mid-6th century. The distinction between Shinto shrines (jinja, miya, yashiro, jingu) and Buddhist temples (tera, otera) is not merely religious but also architectural and philosophical.   Oral tradition says that Shinto shrines first appeared in Japan in the 1st century BCE. But in those times, a “shrine” did not necessarily mean an artificial structure. Anywhere where a kami divine spirit dwelled and could hear the pleas of their believers could be a “shrine”: a field, a river, a mountain. Proper shrines as we think of them today probably first appeared around the 5th or 6th century CE. Originally, they were temporary constructs meant for specific rituals, often erected in the heart of nature. Once a rite was done, the shrine would be disassembled.   Over time, these sacred structures evolved into more permanent buildings but they never forgot their roots, eschewing metal fittings or painted wood to show reverence to nature, and being dismantled every 20 years to be reborn from new materials on shrine grounds. Not all shrines continue this (needless to say very expensive) tradition, but many do. Japan’s Shinto shrines are further easily identified by their iconic torii gates, often painted in red to ward off evil spirits.   Golden Hall and Five-storied Pagoda of Horyu-ji, by Martin Falbisoner, 2016. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Japan’s Buddhist temples, on the other hand, are expansive, architecturally elaborate, and doctrinally oriented inwards towards the individual and their quest for enlightenment. Yet at the same time, they also exist to remind people of the cosmological Buddhist order. While the same can be said about some Shinto shrines, Japanese Buddhist temples are more often multi-building complexes with tight security, be it in the form of protective walls or fierce guardian statues standing inside grand gates.   Temple roofs tend to be tiled and more elaborate, showing influences from mainland Asia. From above, tiled temple roofs resemble rows of ceramic pipes carefully harmonized with the whitened eaves to create a visual illusion of the roof gently floating in midair. Ornamentation in the form of metal fittings, gilding, wood adorned in various colors, and the presence of statues are other characteristics of Japanese Buddhist temples.   Buildings of the Buddha Sammon Gate of Zuiryuji Temple, by Miramimi, 2015. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Buddhist temple architecture in Japan is organized around a group of buildings with specific functions making up a single complex. One of the most classic temple styles is the shichido-garan or “seven-hall complex,” though it is not universal and its implementation differs depending on the specific school. Those temples that liked to keep things traditional were made up of a sammon main gate, a butsuden or kondo main hall housing sacred relics, the hatto lecture hall where studies were conducted, the sodo hall where monks lived and meditated in groups, the yokudo ablution hall, the kuri kitchen, and the kawaya latrines.   Other structures that you could also find at some of the bigger temple complexes are the jikido dining hall, the shoro belltower, the kyozo sutra repository, and of course the pagoda. Derived from the Indian stupa and transformed by Chinese and Korean architectural influences, a Japanese Buddhist pagoda can have three, five, nine, or 13 tiers, is made of wood, and typically houses relics and ashes of departed devotees. For example, Horyu-ji, Japan’s oldest temple, is home to a famous five-story wooden pagoda.   However, the specific layout of these structures, and even the total number of structures in a complex, differed greatly depending on the importance of the temple. For example, by the 11th century, the Enryaku-ji temple on Mt. Hiei in the old capital of Kyoto, was made up of over 3,000 buildings. Today, about 150 remain, spread across 1,700 hectares.   Architectural Styles of Buddhist Temples: A Cosmos of Differences Nandaimon (Great South Gate) of Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan, Jakub Hałun, 2010. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Wayo Style   Originating in the Heian Period (794–1185), the Wayo style is characterized by simplicity, minimal ornamentation, and a close relationship with nature, possibly taking inspiration from Shinto shrines in order to better integrate Buddhism into the Japanese religious landscape during its early years in Japan. The Wayo style features thin columns, low ceilings, and minimally adorned wood, all arranged in a way to create an open space divided with screens, which could be removed to integrate a temple with the natural environment. It is thanks to this style that Japanese Buddhist temples developed a tradition of maintaining beautiful, lush gardens.   Daibutsuyo Style   Introduced during the Kamakura Period (1185–1333), the Daibutsuyo style was heavily influenced by the temple designs of Song Dynasty China. Unlike the subdued Wayo style, this temple architecture emphasizes grandiosity in everything from the size of the buildings to the massive exposed beams or sacred statues. The Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) with its 15-meter-high Great Buddha statue is a quintessential Daibutsuyo monument.   Zenshuyo Style   Also appearing in the Kamakura Period, the Zenshuyo style is closely associated with Zen Buddhism and is characterized by austerity, minimalism, and earthen floors. The interiors are dim and subdued in order to create a space conducive to introspection and meditation.   The Golden Pavillion, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, as seen from the north, by DXR, 2019. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Setchuyo Style   During the Muromachi Period (1336–1573), Japanese architects began to synthesize earlier styles into a hybrid known as Setchuyo. This approach combines elements of Wayo, Daibutsuyo, and Zenshuyo into a clearly distinct amalgamation of simplicity and grandeur. Temples in the Setchuyo style are often built in tiers with restraint and minimalism stacked upon a parade of daring colors or vice versa as seen in the famous Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto. The Setchuyo style can also be expressed via a heavily ornate temple in the middle of a natural setting, creating a mesmerizing contrast of two worlds.   Case Study: Todai-ji and the Great Buddha Hall Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall, by Kanchi1979, 2012. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Todai-ji temple in Nara stands as one of the most enduring symbols of Japanese Buddhism. Founded in the 8th century by Emperor Shomu, it was intended to promote Buddhist unity across the country. At the heart of this temple complex is the Daibutsuden, or Great Buddha Hall, which houses the colossal bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha. The original hall was burned down in 1180 and then again in 1567, and the one standing today dates back to the Edo Period (1603–1868), but it stands mightily. Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden structure in the world, measuring over 57 meters in width and 48 meters in height.   Despite being smaller than the original structure, the Great Buddha Hall remains as majestic and awe-inspiring as it was over a thousand years ago. The wooden structure is a celebration of life through the use of natural materials, while the statue of the Buddha represents a world beyond our own and the enlightenment that is the ultimate goal of any Buddhist. Adjacent to the Great Buddha Hall is the Shoso-in Repository treasure house. Its raised floor, stacked timber walls, and stone foundation are not only uniquely Japanese Buddhist architectural concepts, they also protect priceless artifacts from moisture and pests.   Warrior Temples The Battle of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, by Utagawa Yoshifuji, 1869. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Japan has a long tradition of warrior monks going back to the 10th century, but despite this, the introduction of a soldier class to monastic life did not fundamentally change the architecture of Buddhist temples. The biggest ones like Todai-ji or Enryaku-ji were capable of creating embankments, digging ditches, and building palisades, but they primarily relied on their status and natural terrain to protect them. It was the Ikko-Ikki—leagues of Buddhist peasant zealots led by monks—who constructed actual fortified temples.   These complexes, like Ishiyama Hongan-ji, were usually clearly divided into sacred and secular areas, since monastic warriors were not always strictly speaking monks and required plenty of laymen to serve as support staff. This turned Ikko bases into two separate worlds.   The sacred parts of those temples were the most beautiful and the most fortified, with gates, stone terraces, fences, palisades, moats, and ditches protecting the main hall, the lecture hall, or the sutra repository. By contrast, the secular side, while still protected, usually only offered one layer of fortifications between the outside world and living quarters, kitchens, and refectories.   This process was similar to how towns developed around Japanese castles, and by the 16th century, a fortified Ikko temple and a fortress of a warlord were virtually indistinguishable from each other, adding to the fascinating architectural heritage of Japanese Buddhist temples.   Sources:   Turnbull, S. (2008), Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949–1603.

Wikimedia CommonsMumtaz Mahal’s death inspired the Taj Mahal. India’s Mughal Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world. Emperor Shah Jahan, who ruled from 1628 to 1658, poured his empire’s wealth into building the stunning Taj Mahal, a gleaming white monument that looms over the city of Agra. Visited by millions every year, the towering marble structure was constructed for one reason: to remember the emperor’s lost love, his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. So who was Mumtaz Mahal, the woman who inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal — one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Born a Persian princess, Mumtaz Mahal married her husband in 1612. Trusted by the emperor and loved by the people, she became an important figure in the empire. Mahal served as the patron for humanitarian programs that supported the needy, and was her husband’s loyal advisor. Tragically, the empress died during childbirth at the age of 38. And Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to honor her memory. Who Was Mumtaz Mahal? The Life Of The Empress Consort Born Arjumand Banu Begum on April 27, 1593, Mumtaz Mahal came from a powerful Persian family. Her grandfather had become a trusted advisor of Mughal emperor Akbar (1556 to 1605), and her aunt married Mughal emperor Jahāngīr (1605 to 1627) in 1611, intertwining the family with royalty. When she was around the age of 14 years old, the princess crossed paths with Prince Khurram, Jahangir’s son and heir, at a bazaar. The two quickly fell in love and, in 1607, were betrothed. Wikimedia CommonsBefore marrying into royalty, Mumtaz Mahal had many family connections with power. Her grandfather, aunt, and father were all connected to Mughal Emperors. Five years later, on a date selected by court astrologers, the two wed. And Arjumand Banu Begum’s husband gave her a new name: Mumtaz Mahal, which meant “Chosen One of the Palace.” When he became emperor Shah Jahan in 1628, Mahal became the empress consort of Mughal Empire. While many royal marriages were meant to cement political alliances, the union between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal was a love match. And though the emperor had two other wives, Muhal remained his favorite. She traveled across the empire with her husband, serving as his loyal advisor. In return, Jahan gave her his imperial seal, the highest possible honor. As empress, Mumtaz Mahal also won the hearts of the people. She served as a patron of the arts and a champion of the poor. She sent food to widows and orphans and spent her free time writing Persian poetry, as well as enjoying the beauty of a riverside garden in Agra. Public DomainThough Shah Jahan had three wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite. She and her husband also had 14 children together – but sadly, childbirth would eventually lead to Mumtaz Mahal’s death. The Tragic Death Of Mumtaz Mahal In Childbirth — And The Intense Mourning Of Her Husband Shortly after Shah Jahan became emperor, he led a military campaign in the Deccan Plateau. Mumtaz Mahal traveled with her husband to Burhanpur, in spite of the fact that she was heavily pregnant with her 14th child. Wikimedia CommonsShah Jahan, a prince of the Mughal Empire met Mumtaz Mahal at a royal bazaar. After traveling more than 400 miles with her husband and his army, Mahal went into labor. She struggled through a 30 hour labor, finally giving birth to a daughter. But Mahal then suffered from postpartum hemorrhage and, despite the efforts of her lady-in-waiting, her doctor, and the many midwives summoned to help, Mahal was beyond saving. The emperor rushed to his wife’s side, but there was nothing to be done. Mumtaz Mahal died in his arms on Jan. 17, 1631. She was 38 years old. Shah Jahan was devastated. The emperor purportedly wept for eight days and went into seclusion for a year. He stopped listening to music, gave up his luxurious clothes and jewelry, and emerged from seclusion with his black hair suddenly stark white. Because Mumtaz Mahal died on a Wednesday, the emperor also banned any entertainment on that day. Metropolitan Museum of ArtShah Jahan ruled over one of the richest empires in the world. Mahal’s body was temporarily buried in a walled garden near the military encampment in Burhanpur. But soon after her death, the emperor ordered his wife’s body disinterred. Encased in a gold casket and escorted by one of her sons, the body of Mumtaz Mahal returned to Agra. Then, Shah Jahan began to plan a monument that would encapsulate his love for Mumtaz Mahal for all time. The Woman Who Inspired The Taj Mahal, One Of The Seven Wonders Of The World After putting down the rebellion that had brought him to Burhanpur, Shah Jahan returned to Agra with a plan to memorialize his lost love. Shah Jahan vowed to build a tomb fit for the empress. Public DomainThe Taj Mahal in the 1860s. According to the Taj Mahal website, the emperor put together a group of architects to build a mausoleum like no other (though the names of the monument’s designer are sadly lost to time). Ultimately, the magnificent monument would take 22 years and 20,000 workers to construct. Over more than two decades, workers transported white marble from a quarry 200 miles away. A thousand elephants carried the marble to Agra, where a 10-mile ramp was constructed to move marble upward. Inside the imposing structure, a master calligrapher etched Quran verses into the white marble. Stonecutters chipped away at the marble to create floral designs in which they embedded dozens of different kinds of precious stones, including jade from China, turquoise from Tibet, and malachite from Russia. The Taj Mahal also glitters with the color and light of carnelian, agates, chalcedonies, lapis lazuli, bloodstone, and garnet. In a nod to how “Paradise” in Islam is described as a garden, the Taj Mahal was designed to look like heaven on earth. It includes a garden divided by rivers which flow into a central pool. Philip Nalangan/Wikimedia CommonsThe Taj Mahal was built to resemble “Paradise,” which, in Islam, is depicted as a garden. At the core of the mausoleum complex, under the majestic dome, rests the cenotaph tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. But it stands empty – the empress’ body was interred beneath the Taj Mahal in a crypt. The Taj Mahal: A Tomb For Mumtaz Mahal And Shah Jahan Shortly after the Taj Mahal was completed, Shah Jahan fell ill. His weakness led his sons to fight amongst themselves and his third son, Aurangzeb, eventually seized power. Aurangzeb then confined his father in Agra Fort, where the aging emperor could see the Taj Mahal from his window. Then, in 1666, Shah Jahan died. Though the emperor had once dreamed of building his own mausoleum, a black version of the Taj Mahal, his son Aurangzeb instead ordered that Shah Jahan be buried in the original Taj Mahal. Today, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are the only people buried in the mausoleum. Asitjain/Wikimedia CommonsDetails, including calligraphy, on the outside walls of the Taj Mahal. But after Aurangzeb died in 1707 the Mughal Empire began to decline. The British soon swept into India, carving precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. However, the Taj Mahal has since been preserved. After an early 20th-century restoration project, the monument gained world renown and a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, it’s considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Yet while the Taj Mahal’s architectural brilliance captures the wealth and culture of the Mughal Empire, few know the story of the woman who inspired it. The gleaming white monument is a mausoleum, but it’s also an eternal symbol of the love of Shah Jahan for one person — his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After reading about Mumtaz Mahal, the woman who inspired the Taj Mahal, discover the incredible stories of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Or, learn about the Koh-I-Noor Diamond which Shah Jahan placed atop his Peacock Throne — and which is now part of England’s Crown Jewels. The post The Tragic Story Of Mumtaz Mahal, The Woman Whose Death Inspired The Taj Mahal appeared first on All That's Interesting.