Question

Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following:

Following figures are two scenes from Sanchi. Describe what you see in each of them, focusing on the architecture, plants and animals, and the activities. Identify which one shows a rural scene and which an urban scene, giving reasons for your answer.

Answer 1

In both the figure we see depiction of a way of life. In figure 1 we see more depiction of animals and plants. The depiction of how houses are built in this figure are very rural in the depiction. Houses looks as if they are built of mud and the roof are made of thatch. The way they are dressed on can deduce that they are farmer of they are hunter. There is also a depiction of a man with a bow. He could be hunter.

In figure 2 we see a very different depiction, with architecture that looks that a town. The pillar and the person depicted inside seems to be of high status as there is someone carrying an umbrella on top of him. The sculpture also shows as if the depiction is of a palace and its way of life. We are able to see some people in their activities.

From the above analysis we can safely presume the figure 1 depicts rural way of live whereas figure 2 depicts urban way of life.