Q1.
Take a close look at the panel given above. How many types of weapons can you identify? What different uses of iron can you make out?
Answer
Looking closely at the carving, you can pick out about five or six types of weapon plus defensive gear.
Weapons and gear visible on the panel:
- Long spears / lances — the commonest thing in the crowd of foot soldiers; several are held slanting over the shoulders.
- Swords — short, broad blades carried by soldiers on foot and by riders.
- Bows and arrows — archers appear among the marching ranks and around the besieged city.
- Shields — oblong and rounded shields held on the left arm.
- Battle-axes / hooked weapons — carried by some figures near the city gate.
- The elephant goad (ankuśha) — held by the mahouts on the elephants; not a weapon against the enemy, but essential war equipment.
- Helmets and body coverings, and the elephants' and horses' harness.
Uses of iron you can make out:
| Object in the panel | What iron was used for |
|---|---|
| Spear heads, sword blades, arrowheads, axe blades | Weapons — lighter and sharper than bronze, so soldiers could carry and swing them longer |
| Shield rims and bosses, helmets, armour fittings | Protection |
| Chariot wheel rims, axles, nails and clamps | Vehicles and transport |
| Horse bits, elephant goads, harness rings and buckles | Animal handling |
| City gates, door bands, ramparts, siege equipment | Building and fortification |
Why it happens: This is exactly the point the page before makes about Magadha. Iron ore from the nearby hilly regions gave Magadha two things at once — iron ploughs, which raised the harvest, and lighter, sharper iron weapons, which strengthened the army. Ira's father in the opening story is an ironsmith who “helped forge many of the swords they carry”. Food surplus plus iron weapons is the recipe for an empire.