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Indo-Corinthian capital, Pakistan, Peshawar Museum

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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

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As we have seen in our earlier studies, Buddhist imagery is rich and was known throughout India although it originated in the eastern part of the country, The Ghandaran sculptors show a wide knowledge of this imagery, to be sure, but they also show a good acquaintance with Iranian and Graeco-Roman motifs, Ghandaran art was naturally a blend of Indian, Iranian, and Graeco-Roman art elements, particularly the latter, for the Indians loved decorative architecture and tried to fit the western styles into their creations, Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian pillars, cupids, garland motifs, centaurs, tritons, satyrs and even Ganymede (caught by the claws of a Guruda [sic] rather than the eagle of Zeus) are frequent members of the Ghandaran repertoire, In adapting the architectural orders to their taste, the Ghandarans took the basic flavor of the style: like the Corinthian floral motifs shown in the slide: and added their own personalizing elements, Thus, the Buddha sits in meditation amidst the garlands, Something of the same spirit to be found in the floral motifs of earlier Indian sculpture (at the Great Stupa of Sanchi, for example) has been redefined in this sort of work,

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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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