The Indus Civilization c6.18

c6.18

A most interesting clay amulet shows a large tree of uncertain species associated with a cult object at the top of which is an animal's head, with a sprig of flowers or leaves rising from between its horns. The tree has a high platform round its base very like the mud-platform often seen round a sacred tree in India to-day, and as the shrine of the village deity or deities is frequently placed on, or close to, this erection, the scene on the amulet has a modern parallel. There is some reason to believe that the sacred tree or cult figure on this amulet is guarded by a buffalo, for one appears to be tossing a man over his head, although the man may merely be vaulting over the animal, in the manner of those who took part in the sacred bull sports of ancient Crete.