Armour in Medieval India. Medieval Indian Armour, Hoysaḷa Representation, Wider Documentation and Later Reality

Abstract

Armour is very rarely shown in the non-Islamic art of medieval India after appearing, albeit infrequently, in the Indian art of earlier centuries. Subsequently, the representation of armour would become significantly more common. Nevertheless, there are exceptions, notably on temple carvings and carved vīragal hero or memorial stones from what had been the Hoysaḷa kingdom in the southern Deccan region. This article seeks to interpret these carvings, to identify the reality of the armour shown and to explain its socio-political context. Potential links are drawn between such carved representations and the terminology of armour as used in medieval India. The article concludes by looking at the possible survival of medieval armour technology and styles in the continued use of textile-based armours in southern India into and beyond the early modern era.