The Indus Civilization c9.42

c9.42

Some of the animals on the larger and finer seals are beautifully portrayed, and though their conventional attitudes provide little scope for the expression of movement, much care was lavished on the modelling. A specimen bearing the figure of a humped, or Brahmani, bull (Pl. M, 1) is a very good example of the fine work that could be produced. The muscles ripple under the skin in a most realistic fashion, and the well-nourished hump drooping at the back is also extremely well engraved, especially when it is remembered that all the work had to be done on so small a scale. A fragment of a larger seal with just the head and shoulders of a tiger is also a splendid piece of work, the open mouth, tongue, bared fangs, and careful placing of the double stripes being indicated with great fidelity.