Last Existence: Birth Cycle; figures

Part of a frieze relief preserving two superimposed registers, the lower one showing two scenes from the Birth Cycle, the upper one two figures. The registers are separated by a row of tangential pearls between two plain fillets. The base is plain, the cornice consists of two superimposed plain fillets below and a row of dentils with the same height and width above. The back face shows vertical tool marks. The lower register displays two scenes separated by a framed semi/half column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. The scene on the right depicts the Interpretation of Māyā’s dream. After dreaming of an elephant entering her side, Māyā and Śuddodhana ask the astrologer about the meaning of this dream. The wise man says that the queen has been chosen as the mother of a great being. A figure, probably Śuddhodana, is standing frontal on a throne with the feet resting on a solid footstool. The right hand is raised, and the left is on the knee. On the right, Asita is sitting in profile, turned to the previous figure. His right hand is raised. Remains of his paridhāna and uttarīya are discernible. The following scene preserves only a standing male figure wearing a paridhāna and an uttarīya, and the scanty remains of another one. The upper register shows two figures (whose gender cannot be discerned) depicted in bust length. They are separated by a framed semi/half column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. On the right, the outline of a third figure can be seen. The figures are probably holding a flower in both hands.