Elephant Goad
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The ankus is a tool for the handling and training of elephants consisting of a metal hook attached to a short handle. The elephant is trained to respond to pressure applied to the sensitive skin behind the ears in much the same manner as horses by spurs.
Elephants have been used during religious ceremonies and processions and as mounts for royalty since antiquity. The ankus is therefore found in armouries and temples all across India, often ornately decorated with gemstones, or engraved with passages of sacred text
The ankus is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala in Hinduism, and is associated with certain other religions of the Indian subcontinent. A goad is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.
Elephants have been used during religious ceremonies and processions and as mounts for royalty since antiquity. The ankus is therefore found in armouries and temples all across India, often ornately decorated with gemstones, or engraved with passages of sacred text
The ankus is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala in Hinduism, and is associated with certain other religions of the Indian subcontinent. A goad is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Forged and chiselled steel decorated with gold kuftkari |
| Brief description | Elephant goad ankus with a hollow shaft composed of banded steel ribs decorated with gold kuftkari, enclosing a number of hollow metal bells which roll up and down, Gujarat, 19th century |
| Physical description | Elephant goad ankus with a hollow shaft composed of banded steel ribs decorated with gold kuftkari, enclosing a number of hollow metal bells which roll up and down |
| Credit line | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879 |
| Production | Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879 |
| Summary | The ankus is a tool for the handling and training of elephants consisting of a metal hook attached to a short handle. The elephant is trained to respond to pressure applied to the sensitive skin behind the ears in much the same manner as horses by spurs. Elephants have been used during religious ceremonies and processions and as mounts for royalty since antiquity. The ankus is therefore found in armouries and temples all across India, often ornately decorated with gemstones, or engraved with passages of sacred text The ankus is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala in Hinduism, and is associated with certain other religions of the Indian subcontinent. A goad is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3333(IS) |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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