Iron Pillar of Mehrauli, Delhi

The Iron Pillar of Mehrauli rises from the central courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, its smooth, dark surface contrasting with the weathered stone ruins of the surrounding Qutb complex. Standing over seven meters tall and weighing more than six tons, the pillar is a feat of ancient metallurgy that has resisted significant corrosion for more than sixteen hundred years.