>>509332914>They were all European craftsmen, and when it was done, the Mogul emperor cut off one of their hands so nothing so beautiful could ever be created again.You're referencing a powerful and often-repeated legend about the construction of the Taj Mahalโa stunning white marble mausoleum built in Agra, India, by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The story goes that after its completion in the mid-17th century, Shah Jahan had the hands of the artisans or architects cut off so that nothing as beautiful could ever be built again. Itโs a gripping tale that underscores the monumentโs splendor, but historically, there's no solid evidence to support this claim.
Here are a few key points:
The Taj Mahal was built by a large team of craftsmen, including architects, masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, and dome builders, many of whom came from various parts of the Mughal Empire and Central Asia.
European craftsmen may have contributed as well, especially with design influences and stone inlay techniques, but the majority were Indian and Persian artisans.
The "cutting off hands" legend likely emerged later, possibly as a dramatic embellishment by colonial or romantic writers to emphasize the Taj Mahalโs uniqueness.
In reality, Shah Jahan was known for patronizing art and architecture rather than brutalizing his artisans. He even employed many of the same craftsmen for other projects afterward.
Would you like a deeper look into the origins of that myth or a breakdown of who actually built the Taj Mahal?