ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

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Daily Life: Ancient India

A visual journey through the homes, food, work, markets, family structures, clothing and adornment of ancient Indian societies.

Chapters

0:07 Homes and Water Management
0:58 Food and Daily Meals
1:58 Work, Craft and Trade
3:25 Family Life, Clothing and Adornment

On-screen text

0:07 Homes and Water Management
0:14 Homes and Water Management
0:40 Communal bathing pool Historical record · Sir Mortimer Wheeler, The Great Bath at Mohenjo‑Daro (1950)
0:58 Food and Daily Meals
1:05 Food and Daily Meals
1:22 Barley, wheat, and milk Historical record · Rigveda, Book I, Hymn 6
1:40 Regulated market stalls Historical record · Kautilya, Arthashastra, Book III, Chapter 3
1:49 Joint family household Historical record · Manusmriti, Chapter III, Verse 56
1:58 Work, Craft and Trade
2:05 Work, Craft and Trade
2:22 Metalworking artisans The Institute's interpretation · Sushruta Samhita, Chapter 1
2:40 Carnelian beads and gold pendants Historical record · Excavation of Harappa, Bead and Jewelry Findings (1930s)
2:58 Paved streets and wells The Institute's interpretation · K. P. Jayaswal, Gupta Empire Urbanism (1965)
3:16 Harappan dockyard at Lothal Historical record · Lothal Excavation Report, Archaeological Survey of India (1992)
3:25 Family Life, Clothing and Adornment
3:32 Family Life, Clothing and Adornment
3:49 Cotton and silk garments Historical record · Vātsyāyana, Kamasutra, Chapter 2, Verse 12
4:07 Dhoti and sari styles The Institute's interpretation · Ajanta Cave Paintings, 5th century CE
4:34 Women weaving cloth Tradition / scripture · Sangam literature, Purananuru (c. 3rd century BCE)
4:52 Carnelian beads and gold pendants Historical record · Excavation of Harappa, Bead and Jewelry Findings (1930s)

Sources

Historical record: John Marshall, Excavations at Harappa (1931) · Sir Mortimer Wheeler, The Great Bath at Mohenjo‑Daro (1950) · Archaeological Survey of India, Dholavira Water Management Report (2010) · Lothal Excavation Report, Archaeological Survey of India (1992) · Rigveda, Book I, Hymn 6 · Kautilya, Arthashastra, Book III, Chapter 3 · Manusmriti, Chapter III, Verse 56 · Excavation of Harappa, Bead and Jewelry Findings (1930s) · Vātsyāyana, Kamasutra, Chapter 2, Verse 12

Tradition / scripture: Sangam literature, Purananuru (c. 3rd century BCE)

The Institute's interpretation: Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, Chapter 1 · Sushruta Samhita, Chapter 1 · K. P. Jayaswal, Gupta Empire Urbanism (1965) · Ajanta Cave Paintings, 5th century CE

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 155 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (12) — the next things to make

A reconstruction of a Harappan dwelling with a courtyard, mud‑brick walls, and a well.
A reconstruction of a Harappan dwelling with a courtyard, mud‑brick walls, and a well.
Workers directing rainwater into stone‑lined tanks beside a desert settlement.
Workers directing rainwater into stone‑lined tanks beside a desert settlement.
Boats unloading cotton bales at a stone pier beside a river.
A cook stirring a pot of lentils with clarified butter over a fire.
A cook stirring a pot of lentils with clarified butter over a fire.
Three generations seated together on the floor sharing a meal.
Monks and laypeople in dhoti and sari walking near a monastery.
Monks and laypeople in dhoti and sari walking near a monastery.
Three generations seated together on the floor sharing a meal.
Three generations seated together on the floor sharing a meal.