Ghandaran: Head of Buddha, Schist, 3rd Century A.D.

Date

Authors

Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

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Abstract

Description

It is possible to see the best integration of western and eastern elements in heads such as this one, beautifully carved in light colored schist and dating to the 3rd century The so-called barbaric features have been played down considerably so that, while they still exist, they do not compete with the sacred nature of the work as strongly as they had in the Bodhisattva images previously discussed, There is a greater feeling of significance in this work because it most successfully combies the physical, worldly nature of a man, drawn to meditation, and his transformation into an ascetic symbol, after he has attained enlightenment from that meditation, In this respect, the human elements in the face are not interfering with the spiritual importance to be found in Buddhist sculpture, -- London, British Museum,

Citation

Source

Type

Archives Series

Basham Collection

Date created

circa 1970s

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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

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Restricted until

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