Marudhar Arts
Auction 32 2 Oct 2020
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Ancient India
Gupta Dynasty, Samudragupta (345-375 AD), Gold Dinar, "Ashvamedha" type, Obv: a sacrificial horse standing facing left, behind a sacrificial post (Yupa), which is shown as an elaborate stand with streamers, string of beads and ribbons flying in the wind; the Yupa has an ornamental pedestal with two steps which are slightly bent in towards the center, Brahmi letter 'Si' (Siddam) placed on the platform between the horse legs, a crescent behind the haunch of the horse, Brahmi legend "Rajadhiraja prithivimavitva (divam jayatyahru)ta vajimedha)" around the field, Rev: the chief queen in the guise of a goddess standing left on a lotus-shaped pedestal, carrying a fly-whisk (Chauri) in her right hand, which is placed on her shoulder and holding a towel in her left, Brahmi legend "Ashvamedha Parakramah" on the right field and a ritual needle (Soochi/ceremonial spear with ribbons) on the left,7.37g, 21.59mm, (Unlisted Soochi type, Variant of Altekar. Bayana Hoard # Pl. V-5/TOTGE, S. Kumar # Class. I-Var. B.1), choice extremely fine, Extremely Rare.
Note: The Ashvamedha was one of the grandest of the Vedic religious ceremonies of ancient India, and was performed by a king to celebrate or, to be more precise, affirm their imperial sovereignty. The ceremony is described in detail in various Vedic writings, particularly the Shatapatha Brahmana.
Gupta Dynasty, Samudragupta (345-375 AD), Gold Dinar, "Ashvamedha" type, Obv: a sacrificial horse standing facing left, behind a sacrificial post (Yupa), which is shown as an elaborate stand with streamers, string of beads and ribbons flying in the wind; the Yupa has an ornamental pedestal with two steps which are slightly bent in towards the center, Brahmi letter 'Si' (Siddam) placed on the platform between the horse legs, a crescent behind the haunch of the horse, Brahmi legend "Rajadhiraja prithivimavitva (divam jayatyahru)ta vajimedha)" around the field, Rev: the chief queen in the guise of a goddess standing left on a lotus-shaped pedestal, carrying a fly-whisk (Chauri) in her right hand, which is placed on her shoulder and holding a towel in her left, Brahmi legend "Ashvamedha Parakramah" on the right field and a ritual needle (Soochi/ceremonial spear with ribbons) on the left,7.37g, 21.59mm, (Unlisted Soochi type, Variant of Altekar. Bayana Hoard # Pl. V-5/TOTGE, S. Kumar # Class. I-Var. B.1), choice extremely fine, Extremely Rare.
Note: The Ashvamedha was one of the grandest of the Vedic religious ceremonies of ancient India, and was performed by a king to celebrate or, to be more precise, affirm their imperial sovereignty. The ceremony is described in detail in various Vedic writings, particularly the Shatapatha Brahmana.