Indus Seals Showing Animal Masters

Epic of Gilgamesh was very much a part of our ancient Indus Valley Civilization. That's why everyone belonging to Indus region or studying about it should read Epic of Gilgamesh as a literary heritage.
Gregory Possehl notes "Mesopotamian themes in Indus iconography", particularly designs related to the Gilgamesh epic, suggesting that "some aspects of Mesopotamian religion and ideology would have been accepted at face value is a reasonable notion".

Some Indus seals have a "Gilgamesh" motif of a man fighting two lions, well known in West Asia as the Master of Animals motif (2500-1500 BCE).
Several Indus Valley seals also show a fighting scene between a tiger-like beast and a man with horns, hooves and a tail, who has been compared to the Mesopotamian bull-man Enkidu, also a partner of Gilgamesh, and suggests a transmission of Mesopotamian mythology.

"Master of Animals" and "Bull-man fighting beast"

Uruk period Master of Animals, from the harp found at Ur, dated circa 2600 BCE

Indus valley civilization seal, with man fighting two tigers (2500-1500 BCE).

Enkidu, with horns, hooves and tail, fighting a lion. Akkadian Empire seal, Mesopotamia, circa 2200 BCE.

Man with horns, hooves and tail, fighting a beast. He has been compared to the Mesopotamian bull-man EnkiduJ52^83^53! Indus Valley Civilization seal.
 

Text & Pictures by Jamal Panhwar Travel & Culture Services