Essay name: Archaeology and the Mahabharata (Study)
Author:
Gouri Lad
Affiliation: Deccan College Post Graduate And Research Institute / Department of AIHC and Archaeology
This study examines the Mahabharata from an archaeological perspective. The Maha-Bbharata is an ancient Indian epic written in Sanskrit鈥攊t represents a vast literary work with immense cultural and historical significance. This essay aims to use archaeology to verify and contextualize the Mahabharata's material aspects.
Chapter 14 - Weapons
104 (of 123)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
561
sling-balls found there cover the period of Greek, Scytho-
Parthian as well as Kusana occupation. Of the others,
Rajghat is the only site situated in the Gangetic plain and
its evidence is rather late, from the Christian era. A lot
of spadework will have to be done still at many early
historical sites before a judgement can be pronounced on
the truth and veracity of the Epic weapons.
Phase III (200 B.C. 200 A.D.)
Phase III covers a period after 200 B.C. It does
not have any new weapons to its credit but its stamp is
indelibly marked on the decorations and ornamentation of
the various weapons.
There are two types of ornamentation
gold and one with jewels and precious stones.
a
one with
Unfortunate-
ly literary descriptions of richly ornamented weapons draw
a complete blank on the archeological scene. No such
weapon has so far been unearthed anywhere in India. But we
need not immediately jump to the conclusion that they were
fictitious, beautiful illusions conjured up by the poet's
imagination. Ancient sites outside India, in Egypt, Iraq
and Iran have brought forth some exquisitely ornamented
weapons while the treasures of the nomadic Scythian graves
in Central Asia are unparalleled. It is therefore not
unlikely that such weapons existed in India too, but some-
how disappeared without a trace, one of the primary reasons
