Brahma 10th Century Statue

Statue of Brahma, 10th century, Pala Dynasty, Bengal, Rajshahi District (Aganda Bharat).

Government Museum, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Terracotta Dice Discovered in Harappa,

The terracotta dice discovered in Harappa, an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1800 BC), now located in present-day Pakistan, offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. These cubical dice, adorned with dots representing numbers one through six, were unearthed during excavations conducted between 1995 and 2001.

What makes these dice even more intriguing is the fact that they were not exclusive to Harappa. Similar artifacts were also discovered in the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro. Sir John Marshall, a prominent archaeologist, noted the prevalence of dice games in Mohenjo-daro, as evidenced by the abundance of dice pieces found. These dice were typically crafted from pottery, and their shapes varied in size, ranging from 1.2 by 1.2 by 1.2 inches to 1.5 by 1.5 by 1.5 inches.

The existence of such dice in multiple locations of the Indus Valley Civilization raises questions about the significance of these games in their society and what they reveal about the daily life and recreational activities of that ancient culture. These ancient dice serve as mysterious artifacts that connect us with a civilization long gone, and they continue to spark curiosity about the past.