Correct Option
The correct option isThe king's palace was made of marble
Explanation
Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya, provided a detailed account of the Mauryan capital, Pataliputra (referred to as Palibothra), in his work Indica. His description serves as a primary source for understanding the urban planning and architecture of the early Mauryan period.
Statement-wise Analysis
- It was surrounded by a massive wall is a correct description: Megasthenes described the city as being surrounded by a massive wall. Specifically, he noted it was a wooden palisade (timber wall) with loopholes for archers to shoot arrows.
- It had enclosures for keeping birds is a correct description: The account mentions that the royal palace was surrounded by beautiful parks and grounds that included enclosures for keeping birds, such as peacocks and pheasants, reflecting the king's interest in nature.
- The king's palace was made of marble is an incorrect description: Megasthenes explicitly stated that the king's palace was constructed primarily of wood. While he compared its splendor favorably to the palaces of Susa and Ecbatana, noting it was gilded and decorated with gold and silver, he did not describe it as being made of marble. The extensive use of stone and marble in Mauryan architecture is generally attributed to the reign of Ashoka.
- It had 570 towers is a correct description: The city wall was fortified with 570 towers and had 64 gates, highlighting the immense scale and defensive capability of the capital.
Key Takeaway: Megasthenes described Mauryan Pataliputra as a city built predominantly of wood, including its fortifications and the royal palace, which distinguished it from later stone-based Mauryan architecture introduced by Ashoka.