War in Ancient India c6.s6.28

c6.s6.28

Further, we have a number of tableaux on the upper verandah of the Queen’s monastery.¹⁴² Hunter is of opinion that it may be dated 200 B.C. Here is splendidly represented a battle between a prince and a princess. The princess is defeated and is carried away forcibly. We find only the shield and not the sword in her hand. Apparently the latter was lost in the conflict. The sword of the prince is unsheathed. Again, in the Ganesh cave high up the hill, there is another series of tableaux giving the same story with slight variations. When the prince is running with her on an elephant he is pursued by a number of soldiers. The use of the bow by a number of soldiers is seen in the hunting scene. In these sculptures we have the representation of a woman-warrior wearing a sword and a shield and capable of resisting a trained prince. These cases of women fighting in the field are indeed very rare and hence remarkable.