Last Existence: Princely Life; male figures

Part of a figured frieze originally consisting of two superimposed registers. The lower one depicts three episodes of the Last Existence of the Buddha, the upper one figures in various attitudes. The base is a plain torus. The dividing band is a straight festoon of lanceolate leaves. The cornice is not discernible. The scenes in the lower register are separated by framed semi-columns of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. There are almost vertical large parallel chisel marks on the back. The scene on the right depicts Siddhārtha in the ladies’ chambers. In an attempt to avoid that his son enters the religious life, king Śuddhodana surrounds Siddhārtha with luxury and pleasure, including beautiful women who entertain him with songs and dances. Siddhārtha is sitting on a bed, turned toward a woman lying to his right. She holds a garland in her left, hanging down from the bed. To the left of the scene a dancer is depicted in action. The scene on the left depicts 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 supported the hooves of the horse to prevent noise and wake up Siddhārtha’s family. The bodhisattva rides his horse Kaṇṭhaka in left profile. Behind them there is a figure, probably Vajrapāṇi. Of the upper register remains five male figures in different attitudes. They all wear a short tunic, and at least the first and third from the right hold a shield.