The iron column in Delhi is a historical monument that captivates with the mystery of its creation. It is made of iron, which has not rusted since its construction - more than 1600 years ago. Despite the fact that the column is in the open air, it still remains strong, which is an excellent confirmation of scientific and technical knowledge in ancient India. The iron pillar is one of the oldest secrets of the world, which archaeologists and material scientists are still trying to uncover.
You can see a photo of the iron column in Delhi in our article.
Location
The described object is located opposite the Kuvvat-ul Islam mosque in the Qutb complex, where the famous Qutb Minar minaret is located, in the archaeological complex Mehrauli in Delhi.
The iron column majestically rises to a height of 24 feet (7.2 m). An ancient landmark made of 6 tons of almost pure wrought iron was made.
Chemical composition
Researchers of this mysterious structure carried out a chemical analysis of its composition. In 1961, it turned out that the iron used in the construction of the column was of exceptional purity with a very low carbon content. In addition, scientists found that the metal from which it was made does not contain sulfur or magnesium, but includes phosphorus. Iron itself accounts for about 99.4%. Among the impurities, most of all phosphorus (0.114%). The carbon fraction is 0.08%, which allows to attribute the material to low carbon steel. Other impurities are presented in the following amounts:
- silicon - 0, 046%;
- nitrogen - 0, 032%;
- sulfur - 0, 006%.
Scientific theories
Scientists conducting research in an attempt to uncover the secret of an iron column in Delhi have come to a number of conclusions. All theories put forward to explain the amazing resistance of the structure to corrosion are divided into two main categories:
- Material factors (these versions are put forward mainly by Indian researchers).
- Environmental factors (they are preferred by foreign scientists).
It is believed that due to the high phosphorus content, a protective layer forms on the surface of the column, which, on the one hand, protects it from corrosion, and on the other hand, causes brittleness of the metal (this is clearly visible in the place where the cannonball got into the column).
According to other scholars, the weather in Delhi itself prevents rust. In their view, moisture is a key catalyst for rust. In Delhi, the climate is dry with little moisture. Its content, for most of the year, does not exceed 70%. This may be the reason for the lack of corrosion.
Indian scientists from the Institute of Technology in Kanpur in 2002 conducted thorough research. As the reason for the absence of metal corrosion, they called the protective layer formed by crystalline phosphate. The process of its formation occurs in the presence of wetting and drying cycles. In fact, the corrosion resistance of this unique structure is due to its chemical composition and weather conditions.
In addition, according to Indian scientists, at that time the blacksmiths did not have any special knowledge about the chemistry of alloys, and the composition of iron was selected experimentally.
Thus, this theory suggests that there is a relationship between the processing, structure, and properties of pillar iron. Based on scientific analysis, it was shown that these three factors work together, which led to the formation of a protective passive layer of rust on an iron pillar in Delhi. As a result, it does not undergo further corrosion. Thanks to this property, one can truly consider the iron column in India to be another wonder of the world.
However, this ability to resist corrosion is not unique to this facility. Studies have shown that other large ancient Indian objects have a similar property. These include the iron pillars in Dhar, Mandu, Mount Abu, Kodohadri Hill, and ancient iron cannons. Therefore, we can say that the ancient blacksmiths were highly qualified specialists in forging iron products. In a report published in Current Science magazine, R. Balasubramaniam of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur stated that the pillar is "living evidence of the skill of the metallurgists of ancient India."
Preservation of historical value
Previously, many tourists, clinging to the column, tried to hug her, joining hands. It was believed that if this works out, it will bring good luck to the person.
However, due to this rather popular custom, the lower part of the column began to change its color from constant friction. According to researchers, the endless touch and movement of visitors erase the protective layer that protects it from corrosion. In order to avoid further damage to the lower part of the iron pillar, in 1997 a small fence was placed around it.
Lettering
Although several inscriptions are found on the pillar, the oldest of them is a six-line Sanskrit verse. Since the name Chandra is mentioned in the third verse, scientists were able to establish the time of the creation of the column - in the reign of Chandragupta II Wikramaditi (375-415 BC), King Gupta.
But today she is in Delhi. How this column got there, and where its original location was, is still the subject of scientific discussion.
Riddles of the Column
The goal of creating the iron pillar is one of the many secrets of history. Some scholars say this is a flagpole made for the king mentioned in the inscription. Others argue that it was a sundial at its intended original location - Madhya Pradesh.
Why in the end the column ended up in the capital of India is another secret of the construction. There is no evidence of exactly who moved it more than a thousand years ago, how it was moved, or even why it was moved. All that can be said for sure about this aspect of the history of the pillar comes down to the fact that the mysterious iron column has been part of the landscape of the Indian capital for a very long time.
Versions and guesses
The history of the iron column in Delhi is still being explored. There are many versions of its origin. However, despite the presence of various guesses, scientists already have some information about this building.
In 1838, an Indian antique dealer deciphered everything written on an iron column in Delhi. The inscriptions were then translated into English and published in the Journal of the Asian Society of Bengal. Prior to this, nothing was known about the iron column.
According to scientists, it was created in the early period of the reign of Gupta (320-495 AD). This conclusion was drawn based on the style of the inscription on the post and the features of the language. As already mentioned, in the third verse of the inscription on the iron pole, scientists found a mention of the name Chandra, which designates the rulers of the Gupta dynasty. However, there are different opinions about whether the word Chandra refers to King Samudragupta (340-375) or Chandragupta II (375-415), who was the son of King Samudragupta. It is also believed that the inscription could refer to the Hindu God Vishnu.
There are also many assumptions of historians about where the pillar was forged. According to one of the main theories, an iron column was created on top of the Udaigiri hill in Madhya Pradesh, from where it was delivered to Delhi by King Iltutmish (1210-36) after his victory.
According to other researchers, the iron pillar was moved and installed in the main temple of Lal Kota (the ancient capital of Delhi) by King Anangpal II in 1050 AD. However, in 1191, when King Prithviraj Chauhan, the grandson of Anangpal, was defeated by the army of Muhammad Gori, Qutb-ud-din Aibak built the Kuvvat-ul-Islam mosque in Lal-Kot. It was then that the column was moved from its original location to its current place in front of the mosque.
Iron Pillar Architecture in India
The construction is located on the base decorated with art carvings. Part of the column, approximately 1.1 meters, is underground. The base rests on a grid of iron rods soldered with lead. A layer of paving stone is laid on top of it.
The height of the iron column reaches seven meters. The lower diameter of the pillar is 420 mm (17 inches) and its upper diameter is 306 mm (12 inches). The column weighs more than 5865 kg. Its top is also decorated with carvings. Inscriptions are carved on an iron rack. Some of them contain vague indications of its origin.
The researchers found that the column was made by molding and forging from parts of pasty iron weighing about 20-30 kg. Traces of a hammer are still visible on the surface of the pillar. It was also found that about 120 people worked for several weeks, creating this column.
Attempt to destroy
At a height of about four meters from the ground on the surface of the column there is a noticeable depression. It is said that the damage occurred as a result of firing a cannonball at close range.
According to historians, Nadir Shah ordered the destruction of the iron column during his invasion in 1739. According to the researchers, he wanted to do this in order to find gold or jewelry. Which, according to the invader, could be hidden inside the top of the pillar.
According to another version, they wanted to destroy the column as a Hindu temple pillar, which had no place on the territory of the Muslim complex. However, the iron column in Delhi could not be destroyed.