Giraffe, Giraffe, Camel!

A stone carving from the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, India, has sparked debate over whether it depicts a giraffe or a camel. While giraffes are native to Africa and camels were historically absent from eastern India, both animals were valued as diplomatic gifts. The study uses this enigmatic carving to explore medieval trade dynamics in the region, suggesting that the animal likely represents a camel due to its anatomical features and historical context. This interpretation challenges conventional assumptions about the representation of exotic fauna in Indian art and sheds light on the cultural significance of trade between India and other regions during the medieval period.

Burton, A. (2017). Giraffe, Giraffe, Camel! Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(10), 612. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1741