The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a major Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort Sundareswarar, a form of Shiva. The site is very ancient and is mentioned in Tamil literature, but the temple was badly damaged in the early fourteenth century during raids from the Delhi Sultanate, and much of the present complex was rebuilt under the Nayak rulers in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is known for its tall gopurams, the gateway towers, covered with thousands of brightly painted sculptures, and for its Hall of a Thousand Pillars. It remains a living centre of worship, and the annual wedding festival of the goddess draws huge crowds.
Before and after
- 24 July 1198Livonian Crusade
- 10 December 1198Death of Averroes
- from 1199 to 1349Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia
- from 1200 to 1523Aztec
- 1200Construction of Meenakshi Temple
- 12th centuryConstruction of Bojnice Castle
- 12th centuryPublication of Primary Chronicle
- 12th centuryRise of Waldensians
- 12th centuryConstruction of Spiš Castle
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 691 CEConstruction of Dome of the Rock
- 8th centuryConstruction of Borobudur Temple
- 1066Construction of Tower of London
- from 1206 to 1368Mongol Empire
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
- 1473Construction of Sistine Chapel
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 12th century.