Question

State the salient feature of the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

Answer 1

1. The lion capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four Asiatic lions standing back to back on an elaborate base.
2. This base includes other animals.
3. A graphic representation of it was adopted as the official emblem of India in 1950.
4. It was originally placed atop the Ashoka pillar at the important Buddhist site of Samath by Emperor Ashoka, in about 250 BCE.
5. The pillar, sometimes called the Ashoka Column, is still in its original location.
6. But the Lion Capital is now in the Samath Museum, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
7. It is 7 feet high including the base.
8. The Ashoka Chakra is a depiction of the Buddhist Dharma Chakra with 24 spokes.