Great Sindh: Moenjodaro stone seal five thousand years ago
Indus Civilization: The excavations conducted by Archaeologists 3 decades back in West Pakistan, have brought to light certain facts regarding the Indus civilization. The have succeeded in adding a new and a glorious chapter to the history of our homeland.
The experts are of the opinion that five thousand years ago, the valley irrigated by Indus and its tributaries, was inhabited by a hardy and cultured race. They have come to this conclusion after a very careful analysis of the articles that have been dug out of the ancient culture sites such as Harappa and Moenjodaro etc.
When a site is deserted and destroyed due to the foreign invasion or any other calamity, its ruins and debris’s go on being buried under dust. After the lapse of century’s mounds accumulate over such ruins. Shrubs and trees may also grow over such mounds. Later on it becomes difficult for a person to differentiate such mounds from the natural ones. They are called archaeological, historical or cultural mounds.
Moenjodaro: Out of all the Indus Valley Sites Moenjodaro is the most important. It means the city of the dead. From excavations that have been carried on there down to the sub-soil water it is evident that the place was inhabited for several centuries. It was a well planned city. Its streets were wide. There were lanes flanking the streets. The buildings were plain but dignified. The walls were built of baked and burnt bricks, and the foundations of sun dried bricks. At most of the points, the stair ways leading to upper storeys have been discovered, which shows that the houses there were double storied. Each house had its own doors and windows opening into lanes. Most of the houses had wells and baths. There were excellent drainage arrangements.
Some public buildings have also been discovered. One of such buildings is a big pillared hall. It was either a place of worship or a civic council hall. There is a brick tank, 39 feet in length 23 feet in width and 8 feet in depth with water tight walls and flights of steps at the sides. There were rooms and verandahs at its banks. A well nearly supplied water to this tank. It is a very remarkable find. It proves that the people of Moenjodaro were expert town-planners.
Obverse: Humped bull to the left, stone seal with Indus script of five thousand years ago. Mint: Ancient Indus Valley. Diameter: 33 mm. Shape: Square.
Reverse: Stone seal plain and blank.
Seals: At these places and many other centers, the seals have been discovered. There are very excellent engravings of animals, especially of bulls on them. On many seals, there appear inscriptions in a script, which has not been deciphered yet.
A large number of seals in different materials with highly sophisticated pictographs and depiction of animals is among the very special finds from Moenjodaro. Although of extreme informative value, the pictographs are a continuous source of mystery since they still stand undeciphered. Most of these seals are of steatite although some are made of faience, copper, stone or clay. They are usually square or rectangular and occasionally round, with a figure of an animal and one or two lines of pictographs. There are seals perforated with a hole at the back, through which a thread could pass, thus easing their carrying to be used for stamping purposes.
The seals are intricately carved and represent a variety of fascinating animals. The most common amongst these are the mythological unicorn, the short-horned bull, humped bull, rhinoceros, elephant, tiger, crocodile, Brahamani bull etc. Some seals bear a single symbol such as the swastika, the endless knot, the multiple cross or the grid. Other depict interesting scenes like representing acts of sacrifice and religious rituals. One of the finest examples of this phenomenon is a central figure found in many of the seals and which probably represents a deity. He also wears horned head-dress while his body is a droned with necklaces, bangles and bracelets.
Some of the seals depict a tree spirit or deity in the shape of a human figure placed between the branches of a tree while there are others depicting partly human and partly animal forms. A seal depicting a house boat is of considerable interest, since similar house boats are still used by the fishermen of Sindh and like the bullock-cart, it might be the continuation of the ancient tradition. Hunting seems to have occupied an important place, since many of the seals present hunting scenes. One very interesting find was a seal depicting a river-going ship with a high prow, a central cabin and a double steering oar.
A vast bulk of the seals depicts a single animal with the ‘standard’ before it and the writing above. On some of the small copper tablets discovered here the seal animals bear symbols on their bodies resembling vital organs. These include a rabbit, a two headed Llama-like creature and a horned hunter. In general, there are two categories of seals; those used as amulets and those with representations of an individual, his family or clan. The latter type probably served as signatures of the individuals, specific mark o family etc.
Sind under the Scythian and Parthians.
Sind under the Scythian and Parthians.
Obverse: King Gondophares head to right, diademed and draped, head covered with ribbon. He wears nice royal coat embroidery. View of inscription in Greek BACIΛEΩC CΩTHPOC VNΔOΦEPPOV (King Gondophares the Savior)
Reverse: Scythian figure, standing to the front crest crown view of inscription Kharoshti {MAHARAJASA GUDAPHANISA TRATARASA} “KING GONDOPHARES OF SAVIOR”.
Metal: Bronze. Diameter: 24 mm.
Indo-Scythian Kingdom (role in Sind), in history two Kings Aziz I/II, 58-20 BC.
Obverse: Elephant on one side.
Reverse: Humped Bull to the second side.
Metal: Bronze. Diameter: 27 mm.
Sind under the Scythian and Parthians.
The westward migration of a central Asian horde, expelled from Mongolia some time before the year 160 B.C., started a series of upheavals in the countries lying to the north and west of the Indus valley, culminating in the extinction of the Hellenic kingdom and the appearance of new ruling races in the Indus valley itself.
The evidence for the earlier stages of these movements is derived from Chinese annalists and based on contemporary official reports, for the later developments we depend partly on classical authors, partly on numismatic evidence and inscriptions. The absence of discoveries up to date of any contemporary coins or inscriptions in Sind leaves a vacuum in our knowledge of events there until the middle the country is described by a classical author. Shortly after the year 139 B.C. certain Scythian tribes, the Sacarauli and the Asiani, who had long been settled along the Jaxartes came under pressure from a more powerful horde, the Yueh Chi, and moved on into Bactria. Part of this country they wrested from the successors of Eucratides but there occupation of it seems to gave been temporary and large numbers pushed on to the west, coming into conflict with the Parthians who now held sway over eastern Iran.
It has been generally believed that the Scythian tribes of Seistan, after their defeat during the reign of Mithridates the Great, were driven eastward and taking the line of least resistance by way of Kandhar and the Bolan or Mulla passes, poured into the lower valley of the Indus, taking possession and eventually Cutch and Kathiawar under their authority. These countries thereafter became known to the Greek geographers as Indo-Scythia, and in Indian literature as Saka-dvipa the river country of the Sakas. Saka properly applies only to the Sai tribe of Scythians, that rom the time of Darius Hystaspes it was used in Iran to denote Scythians in general with a distinguishing epithet attached when necessary.
But the first Saka kingdom in India of which there is positive evidence, in the shape of coins and inscriptions, was that founded by Maues in the North West Punjab, by conquest of part of the Hellenic kingdoms.
The view held by Rapson and Taran was that Maues belonged to those Scythians who had migrated from Seistan into Upper Sind 2nd century BCE to the 1st century BCE and that he advanced up the valley of the Indus. Tarn even suggested, on the strength of a coin of Maues depicting Poseidon overcoming a river god, that a naval victory on the Indus may have been decisive in the campaign. But as this device occurs on a coin of Antimachus Theos it probably has no more significance than other Greek emblems adopted by Maues. Dr Lohuezen de Leeuw argues that though the name Maues is Scythian, he is likely to have been a Parthian; she considers that his coin types are more akin to those struck by the contemporary rulers in Eastern Parthia - the models for both being the coinage of the Greeks in Gandhara – than to those of known Saka rulers such as Ranjhubala, which were copied from those of Strato I and II. On his later coins Maues calls himself Great King of Kings, which was a distinctively Parthian title inherited from the Achaemenids; and this perhaps lends support to the view that if not a Parthian he was one of those Scythians who while in Seistan had been subject to Parthia.
This same title was being used in Eastern Iran after the death in B.C. 88 of Mithridates II by Vonones, who had evidently been his viceroy in Arachosia and probably Seistan, and may have been responsible previously for the subjugation of the immigrant Scythians. He appears to have been an old man when he achieved independence, judging by the head on his coins; and either Spalirises or Spalyris, his brothers, appear in association with him. It may be that Maues adopted the title Great King of Kings after the death of Vonones, though Spalirises as Vonones successor in his own territories naturally used the same style. And finally we have to consider the significance of the fact that Azes I, The son or nephew of Spalirises, succeeded Ma’es as ruler in Taxila.
The simplest interpretation would seem to be that Maues, ejected with a larhe body of Scythians from Seistan by Vonones the Parthian viceroy of Eastern Iran, found his way into the Indus valley, and after some time achieved the conquest part of the Greek kingdom of Gandhara;that meanwhile Vonones had become independent in his former Governorship; both then usurped the Parthian royal title as rulers of their respective territories; and that after Maues’ death Vonones’ nephew was able to succeed him, thus reclaiming his conquests for the “legitimate” dynasty of Eastern Parthia.
Rapson has conjectured that Sind, after its occupation by the Scythians from Seistan, was reckoned by the viceroy of Arachosia to be part of his dominions. It is certainly likely that Vonones, on becoming an independent ruler, claimed suzerainty over the province, particularly if Narain’s view become accepted, that the Scythians and Parthians of Eastern Iran were so intermingled as to have become almost a composite race the Pahlavas. Even in northern India where the Sakas who under Maues had conquered Gandhara were distinct and had no previous connection with Parthia, the substitution of Azes, a Pahlava suzerain, in place of the saka Maues seems to have made no difference to the position of the Saka aristocracy. Patika the son of the Satrap Liaka Kusulaka in Maues time is found in the higher rank of Great Satrap in the reign of the Pahlava Gondophernes. At that period Mathura was under the rule of another Saka Great Satrap, Ranjubula. The Governors struck their own coins and seem to have held every attribute of royalty except the royal title.
Sind was almost certainly one of Gondophernes’ provinces; for we have good evidence that its rulers were pahlavas shortly after his reign. Conditions in Sind as they were a little before 50 A.D. are described in a Greek work, the periplus of the Erythraean Sea, the author of which was evidently a merchant writing for the instruction of other merchants wishing to engage in eastern trade. He states that the country was governed by Parthian princes constantly at war and supplanting each other. Sind Shikarpur: Copper Coin “Zarb Shikarpur” Year 1255 Hijri.
Sind Shikarpur: During the regin of Talpurs, there has been a Zarb-e-Khana. The name of Shikarpur, due to Zarb-e-Khana is seen on copper coin, which belongs to 1255 hijri that was issued in the name of Mahmud Shah after ten years of his death and twenty two years later, downfall of Syedzoin. RB Viet hed has mentioned this in his catalogue, but a copper coin of 1255 hijri is found on the one side of coin in zero-shaped “Zarb Shikarpur” and on other side “Jalus of 1255 hijri” is visible. The weight of such found coins is at maximum 180 grain, and minimum 148-6 grain and diameter 24 mm.
Kushan King Huvishka on elephant.
158 – 195 A.D. Diameter 23 mm, bronze coin.
Obverse: Kushan King Huvishka on elephant. 158 – 195 A.D. Diameter 23 mm, bronze coin.
Reverse: Moon Goddess the name of Mao strict stood position. Mint in Kabul, Kashmir and Mathura
on the Jumna.
Huvishka and Vasudeva: Kanishka died after a reign of some twenty
three years about the beginning of the second century A.D. The most prominent
of his successors were Huvishka and Vasudeva the letter was reigning as late as
the ninety eighth years after Kanishka’s accession. From the evidence of the
inscriptions there is some ground for believing that the immediate successor of
Kanishka was Vasishka, and that he reigned for four or five years; it also
appears that Vasishka’s son, also called Kanishka, may have ruled for some
years jointly with Huvishka. In one inscription dated in the forty first year
of the dynasty, this second Kanishka is styled Maharaja Deva putra, which is
the usual title borne by the Kushan sovereigns. On the other hand, the
abundance of Huvishka’s and Vasudeva’s coinage, and the absence of coins of
Vasishka and the second Kanishka, indicates that the two last named may merely
have been associated in the government in a Subordinate capacity. From
inscriptions and other evidence it is clear that Huvishka ruled overKabul, Kashmir, and Mthura on theJumna. There is some reason to
believe that he lost control of Malwa; on the other handUpper Sind
remained within the Kushan Empire, possibly for two further centuries. The
Pioneer excavator of Mohenjo Daro, R.D. Banerji, recovered from the Buddhist
buildings there a large number of coins of Vasudeve, Huvishka’s successor, of
the well-known thick copper type bearing the representation of Siva and his
bull. In the same strata were found fragments of freescoes on which appeared
the remains of inscriptions in Brahmi and Karoshthi exhibiting characteristic
Kushan features, with some resemblance to others discovered Sir Aurel Stein in
Khotan. Their dating is, however, doubtful. Amuch larger quantity of coins
recovered from the Buddhist levels at Mohenjo Daro were of a type apparently
peculiar toUpper Sind ; cast, and not die-struck, rectangular in shape, and
bearing a nimaate figure associated with a cross, trident, or other emblem, but
without any legend. On the evidence of the dress of the royal figure on these
coins they date from the later period when the Indian dominions of the Kushans
hardly extended beyond thePunjab. Yet another type of coins found here bore the
device of the fire altar on one side and on the other a crude human figure.
These symbols occur not only on money of the Kidara Kushans and of the
Sassanians, but were adopted also by the Ephthalites or White Huns; and similar
coins discovered elsewhere have been confidently ascribed to the fourth or the
fifth century A.D.
At Jhukar, a few miles west of Larkana in Upper Sind, broadly similar numismatic evidence was
revealed in late levels of an ancient site. Here too coins of Vasudeva were
found, but greatly out- numbered by examples of the peculiar type so prevalent
near the stupa of Mohenjo Daro, dating from the period of the decline of Kushan
power. Moreover some of thest coins were found either in association with or in
closes proximity to terracotta sealings bearing inscriptions in characters of
the Gupta period, probably not earlier than the fifth century A.D.
SINDH: Mahmud Shah Durani. Denomination Silver Rupee “AH
1255 Year 1839”
SINDH: Mahmud Shah Durani. Denomination Silver Rupee “AH 1255 Year 1839” Talpur Dynasty. Diameter 20 mm. Reverse: Mint Bakhar. Khairpur ruler, show the text Mahmud Shah Durani son of Taimor Shah, coin was mint in 10 years after his death. Khairpur rebuild as a separate state in 1832.
Sind under ruler Amir of Sind Abd Allah Year 870.
Sind under ruler Amir of Sind Abd Allah Year 870, Place of mint Mansura, Description very small coin dirham, term period 870-940, Diameter 15 mm. Metal copper.
Obverse: In round first kalmia La illah illalah.
Reverse: Mohammad Rasulallah. Sind was complete area Mansura and Multan ruled through the
Governors select the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs.
The Governors Sind /
Mansura called as Amirs of Sind and Habbarids.Hyderabad Sind, Taimor Shah Durani 1772-1793, Denomination Silver Rupee.
Sindh:HyderabadSind, Taimor Shah Durani 1772-1793, Denomination Silver Rupee.
HyderabadSind founded in 1768 on the site of the
ancient town of Nirun-kotby
Ghulam Shah Kalhoro. Next duration the capital of Talpur Mirs year 1788. State
under the durani shah 18th Century.Roshan Tara Model Higher Secondary School Ghotki. 1992 to till time.
Roshan Tara Model School
Ghotki: Incepted in 1992, Roshan Tara
Model Higher
Secondary School, Ghotki,
is a project of Sindh Graduates’ Association.
Roshan Tara
Model School is an ideally located institute. On 1st
May, 1995, the school was shifted from its previous small rented building;
situated on Station Road Ghotki. It’s own building that is located in the heart
of Ghotki city. It is convenient to all coming from the four directions.
For about three decades, education standard in
Sindh particularly the Rural areas, has been on continued decline. Institutes
from primary to secondary and from secondary to tertiary (with rare exceptions)
have lost their prestige and have more or less become a mere formality.
Political interference and petty interests of individuals have made the
situation bleak. The decease steamed out of inefficiency, indifference and
self-seeking; is getting incurable day by day out of inefficiency, indifference
and self-seeking; is getting incurable day by day. Roshan Tara Model School
Ghotki, is one of such most prestigious schools of Sindh Graduates’
Association.
Obverse: Plastic Badge, shape round border color red with green color painted.
Inscription white color written in Sindhi language, top “Akhar Parh Alaf Jo”
left and right two stars in red color, bottom Roshan Tara Model School Ghotki.
In central paint color blue upon white star in stylish position. Diameter: 47
mm.
Chairman: Dr Bashir Ahmad Ghoto, Principal: Agha Ali
Gohar Khan Pathan, Finance Secretary Abdul Rauf Dayo Establish year: 1992.
Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi in
central Sindh and sehwanCopper coin (998 – 1030 A.D).
See entry on Home page Thursday, 20 September 2012.
Sind Muizuddin Muhammad Bin Sam famous nameSultan Shihabuddin Muhammad Ghauri 1202-1206 A.D, Silver Tanka, Mint place Delhi and denomination also used in Sind.
See entry on Home page Sunday, 9 September 2012.
Link attached: Sind Muizuddin Muhammad Bin Sam famous name Sultan Shihabuddin Muhammad Ghauri 1202-1206 A.D, Silver Tanka, Mint place Delhi and denomination also used in Sind.
Sind: Almansurah “Barhmanabad” Abdullah ibn Umar al-Habbari
Ruler of Sind Silver tiny dirham. A.H 270, A.D 884.
Obverse: La ilaha illa Allah wahadahu la sharika lahu
Reverse: Muhammad Rasul Allah al-amir Abdullah
Series: coinsrevolution.blogspot.com
Denomination: Silver tiny dirham. Ruler: Habbrid Governor Abdullah under Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil until 855 A.D. Diameter: 10 mm. Struck at:al-Mansurah (Capital of Sind).
See entry on Home page Saturday, 13 October 2012.
Link attached: Sind: Almansurah “Barhmanabad” Abdullah ibn Umar al-Habbari Ruler of Sind Silver tiny dirham. A.H 270, A.D 884.
Sind: Almansurah “Barhmanabad” Abdullah ibn Umar al-Habbari
Obverse: Abdullah (Ruler of Sind)
Reverse: Mima amar bah al-amir.
Denomination: Silver tiny dirham.
Diameter: 9 mm.
Struck at:al-Mansurah (Capital of Sind).See entry on Home page Saturday, 13 October 2012.
Link attached: Sind: Almansurah “Barhmanabad” Abdullah ibn Umar al-Habbari Ruler of Sind Silver tiny dirham. A.H 270, A.D 884.
Sind Mansurah: Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd al-Malik 790 A.D. governor silver tiny dirham.
Obverse: Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah al-Amir Abd al-Rahman.
Reverse: Muhammad Rasul Allah.
Denomination: [silver tiny dirham]. Diameter: [10 mm]. Series: [coinsrevolution.blogspot.com]. Ruller: [Amir of Sind Abd al-Rahman governor]. Struck place: [Almansurah ‘capital of Sind].
See entry on Home page Sunday, 14 October 2012
link: Sind Mansurah: Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd al-Malik 790 A.D. governor silver tiny dirham
Link attached: Sind Bukkur Taimor Shah Coin issued 1780-1790. |
