An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s13.3

v1.c11.s13.3

The terracotta masks from Mohenjo-daro are mould-made, hollow and miniature in size. They are of four types: short-horned grotesquely human-faced; horned panther-faced; bull-faced; and bull-horned, bearded human-faced. While no such examples of masks have been found at Harappa, there are examples of animal figurines having masked face with 'Negrito' features. The human-faced masks seem to have been painted or slipped as is evident from traces of either red or white paint or chocolate-coloured slip and have been considered as representing deities. The eyes of the panther-faced masks which are perforated were 'perhaps once inlaid'. The hollow, horned mask from Mohenjo-daro with a short beard projecting slightly outwards and having bull rather than bison horns is the only example of this type and like the other masks has been considered as representing some deity. To the same genre perhaps belong the terracotta animal figurines from Mohenjo-daro and Harappa with faces reminiscent of the miniature masks.