An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c22.s1.7

v1.c22.s1.7

As we come to the NBPW [4.18.1] levels a large variety of animal figurines, viz. the elephant, bull, horse, ram, dog, monkey, *nāgī*, etc., gradually begin to appear in numerous towns of the Ganga valley. The *nāgī* figurines which also occur in the pre-NBP levels at certain sites of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are stylized and have a snakehood and human female body. They are handmade and beat punched and incised marks to show the navel, girdle, etc. The elephants of BUXAR are noteworthy in that they bear painted vertical stripes. A lustrous polish as on the NBPW is seen on the animal figurines of PRAHLADPUR, MATHURA, etc. At MATHURA some of the elephant figurines are hollow produced on a wheel and have applied tail and trunk. The animals of BUXAR, PĀTALIPUTRA, VAIŚĀLĪ, MASAON, MATHURA, HASTINĀPURA, PURĀNA QILA, ATRANJIKHERA, etc., are meticulously decorated as if they were ceremonial animals. The decoration consists of applied bands, punched-marked and incised circlets, rosette motifs and in some cases even stamped leaf motif as on the mother goddess figurines. Some elephant and horse figurines have riders attached to them.