Last Existence: Princely Life; male figures

Part of a frieze relief with two superimposed registers, the lower one showing two scenes from the Princely Life, the upper one male figures in various attitudes. The registers are separated by a straight festoon with lozenges. Both the base and cornice consist of a projecting band, the former is plain, the latter is decorated with a row of upright carenated leaf-and-dart (?). A circular hole for nail is drilled roughly in the bottom centre of the lower register. The back face shows vertical tool marks. The lower register depicts two scenes from the Competitions separated by a semi-column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. In order to win the young Yaśodharā over, Prince Siddhārtha proves his physical prowess and skills in archery, swordsmanship, wrestling, and other athletic practices. The scene on the right shows the Wrestling Competition. Siddhārtha has to wrestle with other competitors to prove his worth. Two male figures are wrestling. They both wear a laṅgoṭī. On the left, a male figure is sitting with crossed legs and turning towards them. His right hand is raised up, the left is resting on the knee. The scene on the left shows The Cutting of a Bundle of Reeds. Siddhārtha is asked to cut a bundle of reeds in one sword blow; at first, he seems to fail, but actually the cut was so sharp that the severed part of the bundle remains in place. Siddhārtha is depicted twice at the sides of a bundle of tied reeds. On the right, he is standing in profile and is holding a sword. On the left, he is back turned and seems to bear a bundle of reeds in his right hand. A sitting figure identical to that of the previous scene is carved on the left. On the upper registers are two groups of three male figures separated by a tree with vertical branches spreading upwards. Of the right group, the first figure preserves only the lower part of the body. The second figure is depicted frontally. He is holding a cloth in his right hand, and the left hand is on the hip. The third figure is shown in a three-quarter view and is holding, too, a cloth in both hands. Of the left group, the first man is holding a cloth in his right hand, the left is on the hip. The second man has both hands on his hips. The third and last figure is in the three-quarter view. The right hand is raised, and the left is holding a cloth. All the figures wear a short tunic and a mantle.