Ancient Indian Costume c7.s3.2

c7.s3.2

Khorez, Bactria, and Sogdiania in Central Asia, had at one time been some of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. They were later taken over by the Persians, Greeks, and then the Kushans. The third soldier in this army of Mara wears the purely Indian *antariya* and has his *uttariya* wound around his waist. All three soldiers carry shields and equipment of various kinds. Foot soldiers are said to have used six-foot bows with very long arrows, tall shields made of undressed ox hide, and broad swords three cubits long. Some carried javelins instead of bows. Horsemen carried smaller shields and were equipped with two lances each, but rode without saddles.