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Swat: Life of the Buddha - Birth of Prince Siddhartha
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Swat: Life of the Buddha - Birth of Prince Siddhartha
PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat; circa 2nd–3rd century; Schist; H: 15 cm; Peshawar Museum, Pakistan
The panel is framed by Corinthian columns and depicts the first seven steps of the newborn Prince Siddhartha. A nimbus surrounds the young Prince 's head as he stands in the center of a balanced composition. Sakra is to his right wearing a turban and dressed like a Kushan noble. He is holding the vajra that is his sign of office. The bearded Brahma stands on the other side, dressed like a brahmin priest, with a vase in his hand and his hair tied up. Figures standing in dramatic attitudes are on either side of the gods. Immediately behind the Prince is a damaged attendant carrying a whisk and the handle of a canopy, objects used by the royalty of ancient India. |
