THE GROUND BENEATH THE EPICS: Archaeology, Geology, and the Search for the Lost Cities of the Mahabharata and Ramayana - Couverture souple

Selene, Orion

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798177823690

Editeur : Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

Beneath the stories, what does the earth reveal?

The Mahabharata and Ramayana have shaped the imagination of generations. Their cities, rivers, battlefields, and journeys remain alive in literature, pilgrimage, and cultural memory. But what can we establish about these places through archaeology and geology—and where do the questions remain open?

In The Ground Beneath the Epics, Orion Selene takes readers on an illustrated investigation of the landscapes associated with India’s two great epics. From Hastinapura and the contested identification of Indraprastha to Kurukshetra, Dwarka, and the shoals of Ram Setu, the book explores what excavations, ancient river channels, coastal remains, and surviving monuments can tell us.

Along the way, it examines the challenges that make this search so compelling. Does a flood deposit support a remembered disaster? Can a submerged structure establish the identity of a legendary city? What happens when a river changes course? And how do we distinguish the age of an archaeological object from the age of a story associated with it?

Inside, readers will explore:

• The archaeological evidence and traditional associations surrounding major Mahabharata and Ramayana sites.
• The debate over the Sarasvati and the changing river landscapes of northwestern India.
• Underwater discoveries near Dwarka—and the difficulties of interpreting and dating them.
• The geography of Kishkindha, the identification of Lanka, and the geological questions surrounding Ram Setu.
• The methods researchers use to assess chronology, excavation contexts, and competing explanations.

Photographs, explanatory illustrations, a site gazetteer, and a glossary help make complex questions accessible. Throughout, the book distinguishes documented findings from contested interpretations and traditional associations, inviting readers to consider both the evidence and its limits.

Written for readers of Indian history, archaeology, geology, and epic literature, The Ground Beneath the Epics brings curiosity and critical inquiry to places where stories and landscapes meet.

Explore the places. Examine the evidence. Discover the questions still beneath the surface.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2026
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798177823690
• Reliure: Taschenbuch
• Nombre de pages: 234
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Printed by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.de/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg