Madurai was founded more than 2,500 years ago, and was thriving when Augustus took the throne of Rome, and traded with the Roman Empire. It is the center of the Tamil Sangams or academies for learning and Tamil culture. To the Hindus it is a holy place and pilgrimage site. The town is famous for the 16th century Sri Meenakshi Temple which is magnificent monument of Dravidian temple architecture. Its 12 highly decorative Gopurams (domes) are adorned with carvings of celestial and animal figures -- a riot of colorful gods, goddesses, and demons. Architecture and sculpture are not passive monuments here, but living backdrops for scenes which could have been enacted in the Medieval Cathedral cities.
