Which of the following characterizes/ characterize the people of Indus Civilization? 1. They possessed great palaces and temples. 2. They worshipped both male and female deities. 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare. Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

The Indus Valley Civilization is characterized by the worship of both male and female deities. Archaeological evidence includes numerous terracotta female figurines, often identified as 'Mother Goddesses' [1]. Male deities are represented by the 'Pashupati' or proto-Shiva seal, depicting a horned figure surrounded by animals [3]. Regarding statement 1, while the civilization featured advanced urban planning and large public structures like the Great Bath and granaries, there is a notable absence of grand monumental temples or palaces compared to contemporary Mesopotamia or Egypt. Regarding statement 3, although some terracotta models of carts exist, the horse was not a central part of Harappan life, and horse-drawn chariots were characteristic of the later Vedic period rather than the urban Harappan phase [2]. Therefore, only statement 2 is historically accurate for this civilization.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > Faith and Belief System > p. 13
2. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilisation
3. [2] https://www.vec.ac.in/documents/History/Learning_Resources/The_Indus_Civilization.pdf