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Module: General Practice

Q4: Consider the following statements regarding the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro:

1. The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank situated within the Lower Town, primarily utilized for daily domestic washing by the general populace.
2. The tank was made entirely watertight by setting bricks on their edges and utilizing a thick layer of bitumen and a mortar of gypsum.
3. The structure featured two flights of steps, located on the north and south sides, leading directly down into the tank.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A
Only 1 and 2
B
Only 2 and 3
C
Only 1 and 3
D
1, 2, and 3
✅ Correct Answer: B
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option B is correct because statement 1 misidentifies both the location and the purpose of the Great Bath.
Concept Definition: The Great Bath was a massive public water structure located on the elevated Citadel of Mohenjodaro, largely believed by scholars to have been designed for special ritual or religious bathing rather than everyday use.
Structural Breakdown: The rectangular tank was situated in a courtyard and surrounded by a corridor on all four sides.
It included rooms on three sides, one containing a large well that supplied the water.
An outlet from one corner led to a huge drain.
Historical/Related Context: The Great Bath represents one of the earliest examples of waterproofing in the ancient world.
Across a lane to the north, archaeologists also discovered a smaller building containing exactly eight bathrooms, with drains connecting to a central corridor drain.
Causal Reasoning: The exclusive location of the Great Bath on the fortified Citadel, combined with its elaborate waterproof construction and adjacent specialized bathrooms, strongly suggests that it was restricted to the elite or priestly class for ceremonial purification purposes.