UPSC Prelims 2025 Q72: Ancient History – Ancient India
The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo - daro, is made of
- (a) carnelian
- (b) clay
- (c) bronze
- (d) gold
Answer: (c) bronze
Explanation
The 'Dancing Girl' of Mohenjo-daro
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Material | Bronze (copper–tin alloy) |
| Technique | Lost-wax (cire perdue) casting |
| Height | About 10.5 cm |
| Found by | Ernest Mackay, 1926 |
| Kept at | National Museum, New Delhi |
| Features | Bangles covering the left arm, hand on hip, confident pose |
Other famous Harappan artefacts:
| Artefact | Material |
|---|---|
| Priest-King | Steatite (soapstone) |
| Mother Goddess figures | Terracotta (baked clay) |
| Pashupati seal | Steatite |
| Beads | Carnelian, made at Chanhudaro and Lothal |
Answer: (c) bronze.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Carnelian was used for beads, not figurines like the Dancing Girl.
- (b) Incorrect. Clay (terracotta) was used for Mother Goddess figurines and toys.
- (c) CORRECT. The Dancing Girl is a bronze figure cast by the lost-wax method.
- (d) Incorrect. Gold was used for jewellery, but the Dancing Girl is bronze.
Key point
Dancing Girl = bronze (lost-wax); Priest-King = steatite; Mother Goddess = terracotta; beads = carnelian.
Remember
The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro is made of bronze by lost-wax casting.
Common mistakes
- Choosing carnelian because Harappans were famous for carnelian beads.
- Mixing up the Dancing Girl (bronze) with the Priest-King (steatite).
- Placing the Dancing Girl at Harappa; it was found at Mohenjo-daro.
Exam tip
Match material to artefact: Bronze–Dancer, Steatite–Priest and seals, Terracotta–Goddess, Carnelian–beads.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — An Introduction to Indian Art Part I (Arts of the Indus Valley)
- NCERT Class XII — Themes in Indian History Part I, Ch 1
- National Museum, New Delhi