Ghandaran: Bodhisattva, 1st-2nd Century A.D.

In slide 8, we mentioned a Buddha type peculiar to the Ghandarans: one that wore a beard or moustache, Such an example is pictured here assuming the 'preaching' attitude of other Indian Buddha images and imitating the drapery of those figures as well, The halo-like disc is a convention for signifying Buddha's enlightenment practically from the onset, so it has been included in the Ghandaran not unexpectedly, One hesitates to rank this type of Buddha with the more refined Mathura variety, however, it would be unfair to cast the former aside as completely without worth since it does make an interesting comparison to the other images developed and shows the degree to which the western arts influenced an eastern religious symbol, Western touches are present in the transparent drapery, the addition of the moustache and the sandals (not present since the feet are missing in this example), The so-called string folds' on the drapery are of Indian background and appear on other figures produced elsewhere in the country at this time, -- London, British Museum