The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c17.126

c17.126

Human figures, whose summary depiction on the seals in comparison with the skilful animal-forms recalls a similar disparity in the Cave Art of Western Europe, are evidently in most cases either divine or engaged in religious ritual, though in rare instances the intent may be purely secular. Into the last category perhaps fall a linear representation from Mohenjo-daro apparently representing a man working a shadoof or water-raiser, and more doubtfully the man (hunter?) in a tree above a tiger (p. 78). Scenes in which a buffalo is confronting half a dozen prostrate human figures, and another in which a man appears to be vaulting, somewhat in Minoan fashion, over a bull,² may represent hunting scenes or may have a more symbolic significance. The former scene has been compared with one in which, on Ist Dynasty slate palettes in Egypt, the king as Strong Bull gores a prostrate enemy. Another seal from Mohenjo-daro also shows a man (or god) attacking a buffalo with a barbed spear,³ a scene which recalls the attack on Dundubhi by Śiva and other gods with a trident.