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Dancing Girl of Indus Valley Civilization

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Summary of Dancing Girl of Indus Valley Civilization

The Dancing Girl is a bronze sculpture from the Indus Valley Civilization dating 2300-1750 BC. It was discovered in 1926. It is made using the lost-wax casting technique which shows how advanced and skilled the artists of that time were. She is standing with her right hand on the back of her hip and the left hand resting on her left thigh. Her head is slightly tilted backwards. The artefact is also very well preserved and now displayed in the National Museum in Delhi.

1) Wha is the city of Mohenjo-Daro?

The literal meaning of Mohenjo-daro is 'Mound of the Dead', is one of the important site of IVC. The site is famous for its elaborate town planning with street grids with brick pavements, developed water supply, proper drainage with covered sewerage systems. The prominent monumental buildings include The Great Granary and The Great Bath. It is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

2) What are the major findings from various sites of Indus Valley Civilization?

Harappa: Sandstone statues of Human anatomy, Granaries, Bullock carts
Mohenjodaro (Mound of Dead): Great bath: Granary, Bronze dancing girl, Seal of Pasupathi Mahadeva, Steatite statue of beard man, A piece of woven cotton
Sutkagendor: A trade point between Harappa and Babylon
Chanhudaro: Bead makers shop, Footprint of a dog chasing a cat
Amri: Antelope evidence
Kalibangan: Fire altar, Camel bones, Wooden plough
Lothal: First manmade port, Dockyard, Rice husk, Fire altars, Chess playing
Surkotada: Bones of horses, Beads
Banawali: Beads, Barley, Evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan culture
Dholavira: Water harnessing system, Water reservoir

3) What is the Bearded Man (Bearded Priest) from Indus Valley Civilization?

Bearded man was found in Mohenjodaro. The figure is made of Steatite, draped in a shawl under the right arm and covering the left shoulder.

4) What is the Male Torso Statute from Indus Valley Civilization?

The Male Torso found in Harappa was made of red sandstone. There are socket like holes in the neck and shoulders, however the legs of it are broken.

Mother Goddess

Found mainly in Mohenjodaro. The figure is adorned with necklaces hanging over the breast and wearing a loin cloth. The fan shaped head gear with a cup like projection is a distinct decorative feature of the mother goddess.

Seals

Thousands of seals were discovered from the sites, usually made of steatite with beautiful figures of animals such as unicorn bull, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, bison, buffalo, etc.

Seal of Pashupati Mahadev- Found in Mohenjodaro, it depicts a human figure seated cross legged in a yogic posture. An elephant and a tiger are depicted to the right, while on the left is a buffalo and a rhinoceros.

Background of Dancing Girl of Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the earliest civilizations in history, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Excavations of Indus cities have produced evidence of artistic activity. Such findings are important because they provide insights into the minds, lives, and religious beliefs of its times.

Introduction of Dancing Girl of Indus Valley Civilization

Dancing Girl, considered as the highest achievements of the artists of Mohenjodaro (a major site of IVC), is a sculpture made of bronze. It dates back to 2300-1750 BC. It was found in 1926. Presently, it is on display in the Indus Valley Civilization gallery in the National Museum, New Delhi.

About the Features

The sculpture is made using lost-wax casting technique. Here a molten wax is poured into a mould to create a model. This wax model is then covered with a clay coating, leaving some holes as passageways. When the clay-covered moulds are heated in the oven, the wax melts out. After the mould has cooled down, the outer clay cover is chipped off and the finishing touches are done to the solid bronze statue.
The statue is 10.5 cm tall and depicts a young woman or girl with stylized ornaments, standing in a naturalistic and confident pose.
The statue is named the 'Dancing Girl' owing to her posture, with her right hand on the back of her hip and the left hand resting on her left thigh.
Her features are prominent with large eyes, curly hair and a flat nose. She appears to be adorned by a necklace alongside some bangles. Her hair is plaited on the back and neatly tied in a bun.
An interesting fact to notice is that the number of bangles in her hands differ. She has 24 bangles in one hand and 4 in the other.
Her arms are unnaturally long which is a common feature of the artifacts of this time.
Her head is tilted slightly backwards.

Significance

The statue denotes two very important things about the IVC

That they knew metal blending, casting, and other such sophisticated methods;
That entertainment, especially dance, was an essential part of their culture.
The small but unique figure shows the degree of sophistication of Harappan artistry and metallurgy.

Conclusion for Dancing Girl of Indus Valley Civilization

The dancing girl is a world famous object because of the sophistication of its both art and metallurgy. It shows the advancement of Harappan society during that time. The Dancing Girl was not an object built for some utilitarian purpose - artists took great time to create an artefact of purely symbolic, aesthetic value. A masterpiece in its own right, this dynamic figurine exudes feminine poise and grace. This is one of the markers of the rich artistic history of India.