Iron Pillar

 Iron Pillar:  An ancient iron pillar in Delhi which seems to be rust proof. The Iron pillar located in Delhi, India, is a 7 m (23 ft) column in the Qutab complex, notable for the rust-resistant composition of the metals used in its construction.

The pillar has attracted the attention of archaeologists and metallurgists as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather and has been called testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths because of its high resistance to corrosion. The iron pillar is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, almost seven meters high and weighing more than six tones, was erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.

The pillar bears an inscription which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honour of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). Made up of 98% wrought iron of pure quality, it is 23 feet 8 inches high and has a diameter of 16 inches. Also, it was confirmed that the temperatures required to form such kind of pillars cannot be achieved by combustion of coal. The pillar is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron.