An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c13.s2: 8.2 Glass Objects
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c13.s2
- Language
- English
8.2 Glass Objects
v1.c13.s2.1
A faïence bead with a lenticular section and gold border from lothal is reminiscent of a similar jasper bead from Minoan II. In the historical period kaundinyapura, ahicchatrā, ujjain and śrāvastī have yielded what are known as 'stratified eye-beads' [10.1]. At ter have been found beads, finger rings and a flask of banded agate type all of which seem to be of Mediterranean origin. Noteworthy glass objects from arikamedu are bracelets, beads, a bowl of whitish iridescent glass with a ribbed body and a bluish glass bowl full of bubbles and striae. These are undoubtedly of Roman manufacture. Of considerable interest are cameos with female head from Karvan, crystal gems with impressions of Cupid and a bird from arikamedu and a grooved candlestick base from brahmapuri, all belonging to the Graeco-Roman types.
v1.c13.s2.2
The *Periplus* states that crude glass was exported from Alexandria to Barygaza, Nelcynda and Muziris on the w. coast of India and that glass vessels were imported into Barbaricon on the mouth of the Indus, from where they would naturally find their way up the river to Taxila. The abundance of glass objects of Mediterranean origin found at Taxila testifies to this.