What kind of similarities and differences do you find between present-day terracotta and the indus valley terracotta? discuss?
Answers
1-> They were not aware of use of terracotta beyond art and craft. The art was associated with making idols of local gods and goddesses.
2-> They were not aware that presence of organic compounds and its traces may harm the life of terracotta.
3-> In Present day terracotta the life of product is not as vital as that of Indus one.
4-> The terracotta representations of human form were crude in the Indus Valley as compared to now.
5-> Terracotta is usually made from a fairly coarse, porous type of clay. This is first shaped then fired until hard. In the Indus Valley, it was left to harden in the hot sun; later, it was baked in primitive ovens created in the ashes of open fires. Ultimately, it was fired in special ovens, known as kilns.
Similarities:
1-> Still Terracotta has a religious tradition as it was in Indus valley. The terracotta deities can be found in almost all the Hindu households.
2-> Terracotta finds its roots in different ancient civilisations when it was used for cooking, building, ornamentation, recreation, currency and trade in different ways. The methods of firing is similar even now, creating an enduring bond from the ancient to the current potters
Ans. Terracotta tradition in India presently dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Though the terracotta industry has advanced, it yet shares many similarities with the ancient tradition.
Similarities:
1. The religious significance of terracotta has continued from the Indus Valley Civilization and deities can be found in almost all Hindu households.
2. Terracotta was and is used for cooking purpose, ornamentation, artifacts etc. the methods of firing too are similar today marking their origin to the ancient potters.
Differences:
1. Terracotta today does not come with importance attached to the life of the end product. This is quite against what it was during the Indus culture.
2. Human representations during the Indus times were crude compared to the present day representations. For ex. Mother Goddess figure.
3. Terracotta is usually made from a fairly coarse, porous type of clay. This is first shaped then fired until hard. In the Indus Valley, it was left to harden in the hot sun; later, it was baked in primitive ovens created in the ashes of open fires. Ultimately, it was fired in special ovens, known as kilns.
4. Terracotta works today are far more refined showing animated deities.
5. Awareness of harmful effects due to toxins in terracotta is known today and was not known during IVC.
6. Due to fewer alternatives available in the earlier period, terracotta played a very significant role in the lives of ancient people. Contradictorily while terracotta is still used, it is not as common as before.
Terracotta artifacts have been found in abundance from the Indus Valley sites and the tradition thus continued in some ways that are improvised and some that have been continued.