Ancient Peoples

Coin

AD 150-190

Kushan Culture

(Source: The British Museum)

Ivory fragment depicting divine figures.

Shunga period, India (west Bengal), ca. 2nd-1st century B.C.

Pictured on this fragment are the moon god Chandra and his wife and attendant sitting in the god’s chariot. Chandra is also known as Rajanipati (lord of the night) and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night), fathered Budha (Mercury), and married 27 constellations (known as Nakshatras). These sky deities are first mentioned in hymns around 1500 B.C., and were eventually incorporated into the Hindu Pantheon.

(Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Anthropomorph

India, Uttar Pardesh

c. 1500 BC

Copper

21 cm x 29.3 cm

Little is known about this period of Ancient India. Several copper objects like this have been found in this region from this date. The function and meaning of these objects are unclear.

Made through molding and hammering techniques.

(Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Statite Reliquary

Made in India

2nd Century BC

(Source: The British Museum)

Bronze Sword

India

2nd-1st Century BC

(Source: The British Museum)

One of a pair of royal earrings in gold (front and back view).

India, ca. first century B.C. 

That this pair has survived the centuries is rare, as there are very few actual ornaments left over from this period. It has been suggested that the jewellery was melted down and the precious metals used to create new ornaments instead of reusing them, possibly to avoid transmitting the karma of the former owner.

A testament to the formidable gold-smithing skills of the period, this pair of exquisite earrings uses royal emblems such as the winged lion and elephant in their intricate craftsmanship.

(Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Figures Riding an Elephant

Made from Terracotta 

Shunga Period

India

1st Century BC

(Source: The Metropolitan Museum)

Amravati Crossbar

3rd Century AD

Railing cross-bar (suci) carved in limestone on its inner (narrative) face with monks and laity worshipping the Buddha represented as a pillar of fire surmounted by a triratna symbol. The whole scene is bordered with a narrow zone of lotus petals.

The intricate decoration of every portion of the Amaravati rails and pillars are quite stunning. Crossbars that connected the Amaravati pillars are decorated with medallions which continue the narrative intent of the site.

Source: British Museum