Indian art and architecture: Indus Valley Civilization
Indus Valley Civilization
The earliest Indian art emerged from the valley of the Indus River during the second half of the 3d millennium
The Indus civilization produced many statuettes made of steatite and limestone. Some statuettes resemble the hieratic style of contemporary Mesopotamia, while others are done in the smooth, sinuous style that is the prototype of later Indian sculpture, in which the plastic modeling reveals the animating breath of life (prana). Also found in this region are square steatite seals adorned with a range of animals, including naturalistically rendered bulls; ceramic storage jars with simple, stylized designs; toys with wheels; and figurines, which may be mother goddesses. Bronze weapons, tools, and sculptures indicate a sophistication in craftsmanship rather than a major aesthetic development.
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- The Modern Era
- Indian Painting
- Architecture and Sculpture of the Hindu Dynasties
- The Gupta Period
- Gandhara and Mathura
- Sunga and Andhra Dynasties
- Post-Indus Civilization through the Maurya Dynasty
- Indus Valley Civilization
- Bibliography
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