KUTUB MINAR at old Dehli was erected from the pillars and other parts of Jaina temples, and many of them retain the sculptured figures. In 1794, though its capital was then ruined, it was 250 feet 11 inches in height. Its present height is 238 feet 1 inch, deducting the modern pavilion. It has four ornamental balconies, respectively at 97, 148, 188, and 214 feet from the ground, between which are richly-sculptured raised belts containing inscriptions. It is lower by 30 feet than the Campanile at Florence. It is a tower of victory, a Jaya Sthamba. The dates of the ruins in old Dehli are from 1196 to 1235. The inner court was enclosed by Shahab - ud - Din. The central range of arches was built by Kutub-ud Din; the wings by Altamsh, whose tomb is beyond the northern range. The base of this minar is a polygon of twenty-four sides, altogether measuring 417 feet. The shaft is of a circular form, and tapers regularly from the base to the summit. It is divided into five storeys, round each of which runs a bold projecting balcony, supported upon large and richly-carved stone brackets, having balustrades that give to the pillar a most orna mental effect. The exterior of the basement storey is fluted alternately into twenty-seven angular and semicircular faces. Up to the third storey the minar is built of fine red sandstone. From the third balcony to the fifth, the building is composed chiefly of white Jeypore marble. The Hindu architect has not failed to record his undertaking without the usual IIindu invoca tion, Sri Viswakarma prasade rachita, ' built under the auspices of Viswakarma,' the celestial architect of the Hindus. The object is at once apparent to the spectator, that of a Mazinah for the Muazzan to call the faithful to prayers. About
A.D. 1830, it suffered a little from an earthquake, but under the directions of the British Govern ment it was repaired. lbn Batuta was certainly misinformed as to the date and builder of the Kutub. He ascribes it to Sultan Muiz-ud-Din, otherwise called Kaikobad, grandson of Balban (A.D. 1286-1290). But the real date is nearly a century older. It was begun by Kutub-ud-Din Aibek, when governing for Shahab-ud-Din of Ghazni (otherwise Muhammad bin Sam, A.D. 93 1206), and completed by Altamsh (1207-1 236). Ibn Batuta ascribes the rival structure to Kutub ud-Din Khilji (Mubarik Shah, 1316-1320), and in this also Colonel Yule thinks he is wrong. The iron pillar at the Kutub, in the centre of its court yard, stands 22 feet above ground, and extends 20 inches under ground ; total, 23 feet 8 inches. Its diameter at the base is 16 feet 4 inches, and at the capital it is 12.05 inches. There is no date on it, but Mr. Fergusson says (p. 506) that Mr. Prinsep supposed an inscription on it to be of the 3d or 4th century; Dr. Bhau Daji supposed the Gth century. It is forged iron. An inscription on it says it was dedicated to Vishnu ; but its real purpose was a pillar of victory to record the defeat of the Ballii kas near the seven mouths of the Sindhu or Indus. Behind the N.W. corner of the ,mosque is the tomb of Altamsh.—Tod's Travels, pp. 108-327.; Col. R. Maclagan, R.E., in Yule, Cathay, ii. p. 434 ; French Tour; Elphinstone. See Archi tecture ; Dehli.