🏺 Chapter 2: Indus Valley Art & Crafts

(2600 BC - 1800 BC)

📖 Introduction

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was the most advanced civilization of the ancient world (contemporary with Egypt & Mesopotamia).

Known for urban planning and use of burnt bricks
Discovered in 1921 (Harappa) and 1922 (Mohenjo-Daro)
Rich artistic traditions: Seals, Sculptures, Pottery, Beads

🔖 IVC Seals Super PYQ

                What are Seals? Geometrical shaped artifacts, mainly pictographic in nature
                
Material: Soft stone Steatite (सेलखड़ी)
                
Shapes: Square, Circle, Rectangle

🦄 Famous Seals:

Pashupati Seal (Mohenjo-Daro) Super PYQ
- Depicts a deity in Yogic posture (cross-legged)
- Surrounded by animals: Elephant, Tiger, Rhino, Buffalo
- Two deer at the feet (below the throne)
- Three-faced deity with horns
- Considered proto-Shiva (early form of Lord Shiva)
Unicorn Seal (Most abundant type)
- Depicts a one-horned animal (possibly a bull in profile)
Peepal Leaf Seal
- Indicates nature worship

📝 Indus Script on Seals:

Written from Right to Left
Not yet deciphered (IVC = Proto-history)
Average of 5-6 symbols per seal

🗿 Sculptures Super PYQ

1️⃣ Mother Goddess Most Abundant

Most abundant religious image in IVC
Made from terracotta (burnt clay)
Depicts a female deity with elaborate headdress
Suggests matriarchal society and fertility cult
Found at almost all IVC sites

2️⃣ Dancing Girl (Mohenjo-Daro) Super PYQ

Made from Bronze (Lost-wax/Cire-perdue technique)
Height: 10.5 cm
Depicts a dancing girl in a confident pose
Right hand on hip, left arm covered with bangles
Shows advanced metallurgical skills
Lost-wax technique: Wax model covered with clay → wax melted → bronze poured

3️⃣ Bearded Man / Priest-King (Mohenjo-Daro) PYQ

Made from Steatite
Depicts a man with a beard, trefoil-patterned shawl
Headband with circular emblem
Half-closed eyes (meditative pose)
Possibly a priest or ruler

4️⃣ Bronze Bull (Kalibangan)

Shows reverence for animals

🏺 Pottery PYQ

Characteristics:

Wheel-made pottery (shows technological advancement)
Red/Black painted pottery (most common)
Designs: Geometric patterns, animals, plants, birds
Shapes: Jars, pots, dishes, vases, perforated jars (for brewing?)

                💡 Significance: Pottery shows standardization and mass production capabilities of IVC
            

💎 Beads, Bangles & Ornaments

🔹 Beads:

Chanhudaro: Major Bead Industry center PYQ
Materials: Carnelian, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli (semi-precious stones)
Imported Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan
Beads were used in necklaces, headgear

🔹 Bangles:

Kalibangan: Major Bangle Industry center PYQ
Made from: Terracotta, Shell, Copper, Gold

🔹 Ornaments:

IVC people were aware of aesthetic look
Used: Necklaces, waistbands, bangles, finger rings, earrings
Beauty products: Soap, Lipstick, Kajal, Sindoor (from Cinnabar-Mercury)

🏛️ Town Planning as Architectural Art PYQ

Artistic & Engineering Marvel:

Grid Pattern Planning - Geometric precision
Standardized Bricks (4:2:1 ratio) - Shows uniformity
Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro): Engineering + Aesthetic masterpiece
- Dimensions: 12m x 7m x 2.4m deep
- Steps on North-South sides
- Waterproof with bitumen
Dholavira: Unique 3-layer urban planning PYQ

⚒️ Metals & Materials Knowledge

Material/Metal	Usage
Copper	Tools, utensils, ornaments
Bronze	Sculptures (Dancing Girl), tools
Gold	Ornaments, beads
Silver	Ornaments
Tin	Alloy with copper to make bronze
Lapis Lazuli	Beads (imported from Afghanistan)
Carnelian	Beads
Steatite	Seals, sculptures

🎯 PYQ Sniper Shots

Q: What material were IVC seals made from?
A: Steatite (soft stone)

Q: Which seal depicts a deity surrounded by animals?
A: Pashupati Seal (found at Mohenjo-Daro)

Q: Name the most abundant religious image in IVC.
A: Mother Goddess (terracotta figurines)

Q: Which technique was used to make the Dancing Girl sculpture?
A: Lost-wax (Cire-perdue) technique

Q: Which IVC site was famous for bead industry?
A: Chanhudaro

Q: Which site was famous for bangle industry?
A: Kalibangan

Q: What is the brick ratio used in IVC?
A: 4:2:1 (Length : Width : Height)

Q: UPPCS 2019: The Dancing Girl sculpture is made of?
A: Bronze

Q: Which material did IVC import from Afghanistan?
A: Lapis Lazuli (blue semi-precious stone)

Q: What does the Peepal leaf seal indicate?
A: Nature worship

UPPCS Art & Culture • From Your Class Notes