War in Ancient India c6.s6.23

c6.s6.23

Let us now turn to the temple at Kanarak, of which there is an excellent plate (Plate XLIII)¹³⁹ in Havell's book. Outside the southern façade are represented two huge horses apparently guarding the gate, the one intact and the other in ruins. This is a war-horse with a Roman nose and prominent eyes. He is very richly caparisoned with bosses and bands round the face, heavy chain-armour on the neck, tasselled necklaces, jewelled bracelets on all four legs and a tasselled breast-band which keeps the saddle in position. There is also a sheath capable of holding a small dagger and a quiver with tethered arrows. The horse is trampling under his foot two soldiers who wear short and curved swords. They have not the necessary equipment for defence. But there are seen circular shields besides a number of musical instruments, apparently resembling modern ones, such as cymbals, the small drum, the guitar, etc. These seem to belong to the middle ages. It is interesting to read Havell's remarks on this scene: ‘Here Indian sculptors have shown that they can express with as much fire and passion as the greatest European art the pride of victory and the glory of triumphant warfare: for not even the Homeric grandeur of the Elgin marbles surpasses the magnificent movement and modelling of this Indian Achilles and the monumental war-horse in its massive strength and vigour is not unworthy of comparison with Verachio’s famous masterpiece at Venice ’.