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Life of the Buddha - Education of Prince Siddhartha
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Life of the Buddha - Education of Prince Siddhartha
PAKISTAN; circa 2nd–3rd century; Schist; 25 x 22 cm; Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum, Hokuto, Japan
The broken panel depicts the education of Prince Siddhartha. Sitting on a bench at the center with ankles crossed, he is distinguished by a nimbus. The prince’s hair is tied up and he looks downward at something written on a board. Beside Siddhartha, a child attendant holds a bowl and another student standing behind is gazing into the distance. The instructor is on the right, also seated and writing with a stylus. Some of the words on the board on his lap can be recognized as the Gandharan Kharosthi script. The presence of trees on either side indicates that the scene takes place outdoors. |
