Mauryan warrior pictures

[greycat]

Elephants were widely used in military actions in India from about the mid 1st millennium BC" Little by little these so-called 'living tanks' ousted chariots from the battlefield as more and more noble warriors switched their preference, and until the 18th century AD elephants played a substantial part in Indian warfare. Their numbers are estimated to be in the hundreds or thousands in the armies of different rulers, who all pinned their hopes of victory on their elephant corps and looked upon them as token of victory.

Most ancient authors say nothing about towers on elephants' backs; nor are towers to be found in artworks. The crew usually consisted of 2-4 men, including a driver with an ankusha - a pointed goad supplied with a sharp hook. Bows and arrows were common weapons of the crew; javelins and spears were less frequent. The warrior on the croup was often a standard-bearer. Elephants were sometimes covered with armour, but this was expensive. This plate shows one such elephant. The reconstruction is based on plates discovered in Taxila, which date as far back as the turn of the new era.

Edited November 13, 2013 by greycat

[greycat]

Edited November 13, 2013 by greycat

[greycat]

Edited November 13, 2013 by greycat

[greycat]

Edited November 14, 2013 by greycat