War in Ancient India c6.s6.t1.1

c6.s6.t1.1

No study of Indian art would be complete without some reference at least to the Ajanta Cave paintings.¹⁴³ The weapons in these are without any exception very primitive ones. In Plates vii and xxvi are seen representations of a curved dagger held point upwards and perhaps in the left hand so as to leave the right hand free. Plate viii probably refers to the return of a party from a hunt. The scimitar is placed on the right shoulder. But there is no scabbard. Then we see a peculiar kind of shield which looks as if it were a segment of a wheel with the spokes left out. It may be the round kind of shield with grotesque forms of tufts or tassels round the fringes thrown over behind the shoulder with straps and buckles. There is also a quiver for holding arrows which is slung on the back of a foot-soldier, marching with a horse-rider. But curiously no bows are seen.