Final answer:
In ancient Indus sculpture, figures were often depicted in a somewhat abstract manner alongside animals, suggesting influence on and from later Indian religious cultures. Artifacts like seals and figurines mirror religious beliefs and practices, hinting at connections with Hindu deities and afterlife concepts. Such artworks were not just religious but also reflected social status and cultural practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Indus sculpture, people were represented in a manner that can be considered somewhat abstract, often depicted alongside animals that some historians speculate may symbolize reincarnation. This stylistic representation is visible in various artifacts, such as the seal from Mohenjo-Daro dating back to 2600-1900 BCE. The seal features a seated figure with three faces surrounded by animals, an iconic image that bears similarity to later Indian cultures and religious iconography, including depictions of the Hindu god Shiva as the Lord of the Animals.
Artifacts like clay figurines and seals hint at the distinctive religion of the Indus Valley civilization and its influence on subsequent cultures in the region. These objects often suggest a link with the Hindu deities and exhibit components of ritual significance, like the lingams and yonis associated with Shiva worship. Additionally, the burial style practiced by the Indus Valley people, including modest grave goods, implies a belief in an afterlife.
The artisans of the Indus Valley produced a variety of sculptural forms not only for religious purposes but also indicative of the social standing, such as the small bronze figurine of a young woman, believed to represent a dancer. Unlike the Egyptians, the Indus civilization focused less on creating grandiose statues of rulers and more on intimate, smaller sculptures, which were prevalent throughout their culture and influenced neighboring cultures as well.