Mohenjo Daro’s Great Bath is one of its most iconic structures. Dating back to Indus Valley Civilization, this large pool stands as an excellent representation of Harappan culture’s emphasis on hygiene and sanitation.
Considered one of the first public water tanks ever constructed in history, it remains as an iconic structure to this day.
Location
Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan is home to some of the most celebrated structures on earth: Mohenjo Daro’s Great Bath stands out. First discovered in 1926 and considered an early public pool or water tank that existed back then. Believed to have served religious functions – purifying people – those considered impure were forbidden entry – adding even further proof to its religious significance.
The Great Bath was constructed using bricks that had been baked to make them watertight and coated with gypsum to provide weather protection against rain and other adverse elements. For ease of entry and exit, stairs were included within its design to facilitate safe entry/exit from this circular floor of 8 feet diameter which is slightly lower than surrounding pavement levels. Sawed brick set into gypsum mortar has two skins sandwiched together, which were sandwiched by bitumen sealer – its southwest corner features an outlet leading directly into a connected corbeled drain on its west side located within its walls – this structure truly amazing in all aspects.
There are various theories as to why the Great Bath was abandoned, such as it being damaged by natural disasters such as flooding or earthquakes; or its abandonment being due to conflicts with neighboring cities. The Great Bath was one of the most advanced cities ever constructed in ancient history, and its original inhabitants would likely have been willing to fight hard for its survival. No matter its demise, Harappan structures remain fascinating monuments that offer insight into their civilization’s culture and history. This article is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License so you may share it freely while crediting and linking back to it; any modifications must also adhere to this license agreement.
Purpose
The Great Bath stands as an incredible structure in Mohenjo-daro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in modern-day Pakistan. Thought to have been used for ritual bathing purposes and showing evidence of Indus Valley civilization’s sophisticated water management system. One of the main landmarks found there, Mohenjo-daro’s Great Bath stands as one of its key structures.
The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro has long been recognized as an early public water tank in ancient history. Constructed on top of Mohenjo-daro’s citadel mound, the Great Bath likely served as swimming and baptismal pools for its citizens as well as being used to renew their purity. Perhaps most significantly though, its existence became a source of pride among Mohenjo-daro residents as an emblematic sign of their wealth and power.
Mohenjo-daro was a large settlement part of Harappa civilization and featured several buildings with symmetrical plans as well as an elaborate sewerage system and many bathhouses. This structure can be found here in its lower town.
No one really knows why or for what the Great Bath was used; most scholars speculate it may have served religious functions and rituals, with only wealthy, pure citizens being permitted access to it. While this theory remains popular today, other possibilities also exist.
No matter its purpose, the Great Bath is an invaluable structure that can teach students about Indus Valley civilization and their distinctive practices and beliefs. By exploring its engineering, cultural, and historical aspects, students can gain a deeper understanding of Mohenjo-daro and other ancient cities as well as appreciate how some cultures may share similarities while at the same time learning about differences.
Construction
The Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro is one of the iconic structures from Indus Valley Civilization’s 3rd millennium BCE flourishing civilization, considered an early public water tank of antiquity. Situated in Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan and discovered during excavations, this structure boasts an oversized rectangular pool surrounded by corridors on all sides with flights of stairs leading down into its depths.
Archaeologists speculate that this building was once the center of spiritual and social activity, using water from its pool for purification and renewal of health as well as special religious events. Today, it serves as an amazing structure to visit to experience an ancient civilization first-hand.
Mohenjo-daro, like other cities of its time, was laid out on a grid system with streets lined with brick. It was enclosed by a fortification wall with an entrance in the north; at its core stood an ornate palace with an adjoining bath nearby.
It was an exceptional building, in that its interior space contained two wide staircases on either end that led to a deep pool below, featuring small sockets on their edges thought to support wooden planks for support. Furthermore, they had an inner ledge around their entire bath, enabling people to enter without actually stepping into it directly.
The bath was constructed using waterproof baked mud bricks encased with natural tar or bitumen sealants for maximum leaking protection, with sawed bricks set into gypsum mortar and reinforced by bitumen sealer to form its floor.
The walls of this bath were constructed with a stepped masonry pattern similar to Mohenjo-daro gates, decorated with sculptural reliefs depicting animals, humans and religious figures; its surfaces covered with fine plaster. Furthermore, some pieces of pottery bearing Indus script names indicate its builders and patrons were wealthy individuals with strong social standing in their community.
Conclusions
The Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro stands out as an intriguing structure among the Indus Valley civilization ruins, thanks to its complex design and purposeful purpose. As an educational example of ancient civilizations, its archaeological importance aside, this structure provides an exceptional chance to encourage student curiosity while cultivating appreciation of human ingenuity over time.
The Great Bath of Indus Valley Civilization was an extraordinary monument built over millennia ago to represent their culture’s public swimming pools. Built on top of a citadel mound and intended for ritualistic bathing purposes, this immense structure boasted a brick floor sealed with bitumen; square piles may have served as dressing rooms; its central location suggests it was meant to help people renew their purity and cleanse themselves.
Since Mohenjo-Daro was first excavated, there have been various theories as to its origins. Some believe that its destruction occurred through war while others suggest volcanic activity or earthquake activity may have played a part. Most recently, on History Channel’s Ancient Aliens series there has been speculation that an ancient weapon similar to an atomic bomb caused its demise – though mainstream archaeologists have not supported this theory it has led to new generations of alternative theories regarding Mohenjo-Daro and its inhabitants.
Mohenjo-Daro was an advanced urban settlement featuring an intricate network of streets, wells, houses, and buildings that connected it together in two sections: Lower Town and Citadel. While artisans, craftworkers, traders, and merchants resided in Lower Town while artisans were mostly found trading goods between these two parts. Their highly organized lifestyle mirrored that of Indus Valley civilization as their lifestyle differed dramatically between each part.
