Archaeological Institute of America Lecture
by Dr. Barry Perlus
Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories or “Jantar Mantars” incorporate multiple buildings of unique form each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale, have captivated the attention of architects, artists and art historians worldwide yet remain largely unknown to the general public. Jai Singh’s observatories present us with a unique opportunity to think about and experience the relationships among many fields of activity including astronomy, astrology, mathematics, architecture, design, politics, religion and art. A visitor to the observatory is immersed in space and time as physical phenomena: walking within a projection of the celestial sharper, following the movement of the sun’s shadow across a marble quadrant, measuring the passage of time against the cycle of her own breath.