Great Bath, Mohenjo-daro

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The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro

The Great Bath is one of the best-known structures among the ruins of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization at Mohenjo-daro in Sindh, Pakistan.[1][2] Archaeological evidence indicates that the Great Bath was built in the 3rd Millennium BCE, just sometime after raising of the "citadel" mound on which it is located.[3]

Features

The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro is called the "earliest public water tank of the ancient world"[4] The Great Bath measures 11.88 metres x 7.01 metres, and has a maximum depth of 2.43 metres. Two wide staircases, one from the north and one from the south, served as the entry to the structure.[5] A 1 meter wide and 40 centimeters mound is present at end of these stairs.
Another view of the Great Bath
A hole was also found at one end of the Bath which might have been used to drain the water into it.
The Great Bath is built of fine baked mud bricks lined with bitumen (natural tar – presumably to keep water from seeping through), which indicates that it was used for holding water. Many scholars have suggested that it could have been a place for ritual bathing or religious ceremonies, but the actual use is not clear.[1]

College of Priests

Across the street of Great Bath, there was a large building having several rooms and three verandas, with two staircases leading to roof and upper floor; and considering the size and proximity to Great Bath, this building is tentatively termed as house of Priest/several priests and labelled as "college of priests".[3]

Discovery

It was found in 1926 during Archaeological excavations.

Currency of Pakistan

The site of Mohenjo-daro is depicted in the Pakistani rupee 20 Rs.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 SD Area. Ancient Museum. British India.
  2. ↑ "Great Bath." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 9 June 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Singh, Upinder (2008). A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. pp. 149–150. ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0. 
  4. ↑ Harappa, com. ""Great Bath" Mohenjadaro". slide show with description by J.M.Kenoyer. Harappa.com. Retrieved 2 July 2012. 
  5. ↑ Great Bath, SD Area, looking north.
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