Ghandhara Buddha

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The Buddha can be identified by several distinguishing marks, most notably the ushnisha, a cranial projection that in this sculpture appears as a neatly styled knot of hair, and the urna, a cluster of hair between his eyes. On the pedestal, the Hindu gods Brahma and Indra stand beside the figure of a meditating Buddha. After abandoning a life of luxury, the Buddha achieved enlightenment and delivered sermons that emphasized living without attachment. This sculpture originates from Gandhara, a culturally diverse region in present-day northwest Pakistan. Much has been said about the close connections between Gandharan art and Greek and Roman art, evident in the flowing folds of robes and chiseled facial features. Greek soldiers occupied the area in 330 BCE; Indian, Persian, and central Asian forces also established a presence there between 300 BCE and 460 CE. Trade provided the primary motivation for all travelers, as Gandhara occupied a strategic location along the trade routes that connected China to the western lands.