The government of Pakistan has decided on Saturday to formally seek the possession of the iconic ‘Dancing Girl’ statue discovered from the historic city of Mohenjodaro from India.
Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Director General Syed Jamal Shah said that the statue will be requested under the UNESCO conventions. He said that this is the first time that the request will be made to the government of India.
The statue is currently on display at the National Museum in New Delhi which is one the largest museum in India. Dancing Girl is a bronze statuette about 4.1 inches high dating around 2500 BC from the ancient city Mohenjodaro of the Indus Valley Civilisation in Sindh.
It was discovered in 1926 by British archaeologist Ernest Mackay is known for his excavations on the ruins. Although it is a standing position, it was named ‘Dancing Girl’ due to an assumption of her profession.
The statuette is seen wearing a number of bangles and a necklace and is shown in a natural standing position. She wears 24-25 bangles on her left arm and 4 bangles on her right arm while both arms are unusually long.
The name Dancing Girl was coined by British archaeologist Sir John Marshall. In 1973, another British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler described the item as his favourite statuette.
The bronze girl was made using the lost wax casting technique and shows the expertise of the people in making bronze works during that time. It also shows that that entertainment, especially dance was part of the culture.
