Cultures & Traditions

Indian painting during the Mughal era was created in a variety of cultural and religious contexts. Sometimes described as "miniature paintings," many of these images were originally part of illustrated manuscripts and were generally intended to be viewed in intimate, personal settings by connoisseurs and elites. 

While the taste of the Mughal court generally dominated the arts of the Mughal period, Hindu art by no means disappeared. Art and architecture continued to be created in the context of Hinduism, particularly in areas not ruled by Muslims, and in communities that remained Hindu. In south India, the heritage of the Chola dynasty persisted and evolved in a profusion of religious sculpture and architecture.

Within the first few days of the death of a Senufo male, his body is interred by members of his profession and family. During the funeral, rhythm pounders [1974.Sc.15] are placed on either side of the corpse, which lies in state on a carved wooden bier or on mats covering the ground.

Shango—the Yoruba god of thunder, giver of children, and "patron saint" of twins—once lived among men as a brilliant but capricious military general who became the fourth king (alafin) of the ancient Oyo Yoruba empire. He had a volatile temper, and when he ranted, fire issued from his mouth.

In Ancient Egypt, the god Osiris was believed to be the god of rebirth and judge of the dead in the afterlife. Osiris appears frequently in Egyptian burial art where he is often portrayed as a green or black-faced figure with a crown, a crook, and a flail.