Last Existence: Great Departure; donors

Part of a frieze relief consisting of two superimposed registers, the lower one representing two scenes of the Last Existence of the Buddha - the left scene is not preserved -, the upper one a row of figures in arches. The registers are separated by a row of lozenges between a plain fillet. The scenes on the lower register are enclosed between a framed semi-columns of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. Of the scene on the right only remains a damaged figure with the proper right arm raised, arguably a female from the profile of the body. The extant scene represents 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. In the scene we see the haloed Bodhisattva riding his horse, while a spirit holds the forelegs of the animal. A standing male figure in front of the Bodhisattva is holding an umbrella in his left hand, while with the right indicates the way. He wears a paridhāna, a long cross-necklace resting on the upper right arm, earrings, and a turban. He likely has a moustache. The upper register is carved with a continuous frieze depicting busts of donors wearing draped overrobes and a turban, and holding a palm leaf, under arches supported by short columns with capitals composed of horizontal mouldings (Tuscan type).