[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [The Indus Civilization](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935) › c6.49 # The Indus Civilization c6.49 The Indus Civilization c6.49 - **Language:** English ### [c6.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6.49) It is still uncertain whether dancing formed part of the religion of the inhabitants of the Indus valley, although it is so important a feature of the ritual of certain sects in India to-day. A scene on a fragment of a faience amulet showing a man beating a drum and people dancing to the music seems to suggest, from its appearance on a religious symbol, that the dance was a ceremonial one; but this supposition, of course, cannot at present be verified. On an amulet from Harappa a man is playing a drum before a tiger; but here again it is impossible to say whether the tiger represents a deity in human form, or whether the whole scene is simply an illustration of “music hath charms.” Another amulet from the same city shows the cult-object invariably associated with the urus-bull, while by the side of it appears a figure which may be that of a woman dancing; if this interpretation be correct, the dance must certainly be a religious one. - [Previous: c6.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6.48) - [Next: c6.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6.50) - [Up: c6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6) ## Cites (2) - [Harappā](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.harappa) - [Mohenjo-daro](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mohenjo-daro) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mackay-1935.c6.49) · Pramāṇa