An interesting Terracotta Plaque from Ahicchatra (U.P.)

‘An interesting Terracotta Plaque from Ahicchatra (U.P.)’ by T.N. Ramachandran examines a rectangular terracotta plaque excavated at Ahicchatra, the ancient capital of Northern Panchala. The plaque, dated stylistically to between A.D. 450 and 650, depicts a dynamic battle scene: two four-wheeled chariots confront each other, each carrying archers; a drummer accompanies one chariot while a boar and a crescent emblem fly on their respective banners. Earlier scholars identified the scene as illustrating the encounter between Arjuna and the hunter (Kirata) from the Mahabharata’s Kiratarjuniya episode because one of the combatants is shown drawing a bow while kneeling. Ramachandran challenges this interpretation on iconographic grounds. He observes that the boar and crescent emblems correspond to the heraldic symbols of Jayadratha and Yudhisthira (Dharmaputra) rather than to Arjuna and Siva. According to the Mahabharata, Jayadratha bore a boar on his banner, while Yudhisthira’s standard displayed a moon crescent. The plaque’s chariot warriors thus likely represent Jayadratha and Yudhisthira locked in combat during the Kurukshetra war. The article further analyses the costume and weaponry on the plaque; the warriors wear conical helmets and long tunics and use powerful composite bows, consistent with Gupta-period military gear. The presence of the drummer suggests ceremonial aspects of warfare, and the chariots’ elaborate construction indicates the status of the combatants. Ramachandran situates the plaque within the broader corpus of Gupta terracottas and notes its exceptional craftsmanship. He compares it with other narrative terracottas from Bhitargaon and Bhumara to show stylistic parallels, such as the modelling of muscular limbs and expressive faces. The article concludes that the plaque provides rare visual evidence of Gupta-period interpretations of the Mahabharata and highlights the importance of examining iconography and heraldry to accurately identify mythological scenes.

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