American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

Vijayanagara: Where Kings and Gods Meet (Exhibition)
birth: 1985 October 23
death: 1986 January 26
Exhibition. Opened in October 23, 1985 and closed January 26, 1986. Located on Floor 2 in the Akeley Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History. "Vijayanagara: Where Kings and Gods Meet" was an exhibition of forty photographs and architectural drawings of Vijayanagara, the best-preserved of India's Hindu capitals.
Summary
"Vijayanagara: Where Kings and Gods Meet" was an exhibition of forty photographs and architectural drawings of Vijayanagara, the best-preserved of India's Hindu capitals. The photos and drawings depicted the elaborate Hindu temple complexes and palaces, pavilions and towers, and even the King's elephant stables. Also included were maps and illustrations of the city plan, its road network and the hydraulic system as well as examples of Vijayanagara period sculpture. The exhibition reflected the work of three teams working in Vijayanagara. They were the Archeological Survey of India, under M.S. Nagarajo Rao, director general; the Department of Archeology and Museums of the Indian State of Karnataka, under A. Sundara; and, an international group of archeologists, architects and students led by John M. Fritz, associate professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, and George Michell, architectural historian and author. The photos were taken by John Gollings. The exhibit was on view in the Akeley Gallery of the American Museum of Natural History from October 23, 1985 through January 26, 1986. The exhibit was one of two Indian exhibitions presented by the Museum as part of the national Festival of India celebrations. The other Festival of India exhibition was "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright: An Indian Wildlife Portfolio."