"Perhaps the most intriguing aspects of the ancient Indus culture are the religion and politics, which appear to have been closely intertwined. The mythical unicorn commonly illustrated on seals may have been the symbol of a merchant clan as well as an object of veneration (fig 1.6 [above]," writes Dr. Kenoyer (Ancient Cities, p. 18).

He elaborates about this medallion (p. 188, another view)

"Pendant or medallion pictures the unicorn combined with many sacred symbols of the Indus religion. The body of the figure has a kidney or womb-shaped symbol in its belly, the same motif is elaborated to form the frame for the pendant, which is also a common design for shell inlay (see cat. no. 110). Two leaf shapes of the sacred fig or pipal tree are depicted at the animal's shoulder and rump. A ritual offering stand is placed in front of the image. The deeply incised frame and the symbols on the unicorn would have been set with inlay."

Material: Unfired tan steatite
Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.8 cm
Mohenjo-daro, DK 8063
National Museum, Karachi, 50.125
Mackay 1938, 546, pl. CXL, 59