The Buddhist Art of Gandhāra

The DiGA Collection in a new dress

For a while now, the collection of Buddhist art of the Dir Museum, KP, Pakistan, has been accessible through the heidICON platform. Today, the DiGA project is happy to announce the availability of a new way to explore the collection on this website.

Launch

Today, the first demo site launched.

Ichthyocentaur

A string triangular element of a stair railing representing an ichthyocentaur defined by a plain listel frame. On the back face are traces of chisel. The ichthyocentaur occupies the whole figurative field and is shown with joined hands and slightly bending forward in a sign of respect. The figure is …

Fantastic animal

A string triangular element of a stair railing representing a fantastic animal defined by a plain listel frame. The figure occupies the whole figurative field. It has a coiled tail, a wing, hooves, and the head of a buffalo with big, globular eyes.

Fantastic animal

A string triangular element of a stair railing representing a hippocamp defined by a plain listel frame. On the back face are two sockets. The figure occupies the whole figurative field. It has a spotted coiled tail and a wing with feathers regularly carved.

Male and female figures

Last Existence: Great Departure

Fragment of a figured relief probably representing the Great Departure. Prince Siddhārtha leaves the palace at night mounting his horse Kaṇṭhaka and accompanied by his loyal charioteer Chandaka. According to Buddhist literary accounts, spirits support the hooves of the horse to prevent noise and wake up Siddhārtha’s family. The …

Architectural element

Fragment of a volute, possibly belonging to an arch. The frame is decorated with a saw-teeth motif. The bottom face is carved with two framed rosettes. It is unclear whether the piece was reused. The volute has the shape of a lion’s head.

Fantastic animal

Fragment of a string triangular element of stair railing representing an hippocamp defined by a plain listel frame.

Male figure

Fragment of a dividing element (?) showing a standing male figure. The base consists of a plain band. The figure was originally encased in a plain frame. The figure is standing frontal, the weight of his body is placed on the right leg and the left leg is slightly bent. He …

Figures

Part of a false figured bracket depicting two standing figures, probably a couple. They rest on a base consisting of a projecting plain half round. The tenon is preserved. On the right is a (female?) figure standing in left profile. It is raising the left arm. Traces of wristlets and …

Last Existence: Encounter with a Sick Man

Fragment of a relief depicting the Encounter with a Sick Man. Siddhārtha encounters a sick man suffering from a disease. The base is plain. On the right is a seated male figure, the left leg is bent down, the right knee is raised up. His right hand is resting on …

Male figure

Fragment of a relief depicting a male figure, possibly an ascetic. The figure is in right three-quarter view with joined hands. His long straight hair falls on his shoulder and the outline of a vertical knot is perceptible on the top. He wears an uttarīya draped on the left shoulder …

Ascetic

Fragment of a relief showing an elderly ascetic. Only the head and an unidentifiable object he was possibly holding (?) are still visible on the worn surface. The ascetic is in left profile. He has an elongated face, globular eyes, a moustache and curly beard. The long straight hair is pulled …

Buddha

Torso of a buddha possibly belonging to a stele statue. He is standing with the right hand resting on the belly and the left hand holding an edge of the saṃghāti. The over-robe has an oval neckline. The drapery of the saṃghāti is rendered in dense rounded ridges falling in …

Last Existence: First Bath

Fragment of a relief depicting the First Bath. Soon after his birth, Prince Siddhārtha walks seven steps and proclaims this was his last rebirth. Then, two streams of water poured by gods wash the body of the newborn. The base consists of a projecting plain fillet and band. At the …

Ascetic

Fragment of a relief preserving the head of an elderly ascetic. The cornice is decorated with acanthus leaves. On the back are horizontal traces of chisel. On the left is the head of an elderly ascetic in left profile. Only his globular knot of hair is discernible.

Figures

Fragment of a relief preserving two standing male figures, the left one is possibly the Buddha. On the top face are probably the remains of a tenon. On the right is a male figure standing frontal with crossed legs. On the left is probably the Buddha. This is suggested by …

Figures

Fragment of a relief preserving the feet of two distinct figures. The base is plain. On the back are traces of chisel.

Figures

Part of a relief showing a row of figures, possibly male. The base consists of a plain fillet. The figures are standing frontal with joined hands. It appears they are all wearing a long garment (?).

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