An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s11.4

v1.c17.s11.4

The prototypes of the tanks can be seen in the *ex-votos* at Hephaestia in the Isle of Lemnos and Nuzi in Iran and the soul-houses of Egypt and China. In India they are believed to have come through the Sakas or Parthians as suggested by Marshall, Gordon and Agrawala. The drummers in the tanks of Ahicchatrā show, according to Agrawala, a close similarity with those of Seleucia during the period of the Parthians. The representation of birds (doves), snakes, aquatic animals, the goddess idol and drummers suggests very possibly a link with the cult of the mother goddess in her Hellenized-Parthian form. Marshall also suggests a connection with the dead and draws attention to the Yama-Pukur rite in the worship of Yama, the god of death, performed by unmarried girls in Bengal where similar tanks are used to this day. However it has not been conclusively shown that this ritual is connected with the tanks of the ancient period. Besides, votive tanks have not been reported from the early Bengal sites.