India and the World : A History in Nine Stories #2

This intricately designed object is known as the "Sandard of Ur". On one side, it shows scenes from times of 'peace' and on the other, those of 'war'. Which ancient civilization was home to the city of Ur?

This Persian Achaemenid relief comes from Persepolis in Iran , one of the capitals of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Who was the founder of this great empire?

This Gupta style sculpture from Phopnar Kalan, Maharashtra( AD 400-450 ) depicts flying beings circling over Buddha's head, most likely a Gandharan influence. The regnal years of which dynasty of rulers does this object come from?

This is a guide book for the pilgrims embarking on the 'Hajj'pilgrimage to Mecca from the western coast of India. Made in 1548 and dedicated to the then ruler of Gujarat Muzaffar ibn-al-din Mahmud Shah, what is this manual called?

The Jesuist Missionaries brought western religious thoughts to the Mughal Court from 1580s onwards. This folio made in around 1620 shows the Mughal Emperor Jahangir holding an icon of which of the following?

This is a facsimile of one of the two original copies of the Constitution of India. This document brings together hundreds of years of Indian artistic traditions and is the cornerstone of Indian democracy. Which Indian artist from Shantiniketan supervised the art illustrations for this particular volume?

This is a Sassanian Gold Coin of Shapur II (AD 409-79). It shows the image of the King on one side and a fire altar as a symbol of the divine on the other. Which religion did the Sassanian Kings patronize?

This gypsum statuette of a woman represents the individual who must have made donations to the sacred temples of Mesopotamia. Here , we can see her sporting a 'unibrow', a contemporary symbol of beauty. Which present day nation would you find Mesopotamia in?

This brass plaque comes from the erstwhile Kingdom of Benin. It shows the 'Oba'(the religious and political head of the Edo people) surrounded by four guards. They all seem to be wearing Indian garments shipped by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Which present day nation was home to the Kingdom of Benin?

'Seals' with animal motifs and inscriptions , such as the one pictured here, come from which ancient river valley civilizations? (hint : Their Script is yet to be deciphered)