Image title: Ancient Door Sill

[Nepal, ca. 7th century; Stone; Object SS 529]—The caparisoned elephants and now-damaged lions of this ancient door-sill were not only decorative but symbolically supported the building above. The holes in the upper surface are to mount swinging doors. The ensemble of doorsill, jambs, and doors was probably similar to the doorways of Keshav Narayan temple in the courtyard of this palace wing or as reconstructed in the accompanying drawing.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.