The Great Departure and Temptation of the Buddha at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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This massive limestone panel showcases two pivotal moments from the Buddha's life in vivid detail. The lower scene captures the exact instant when Siddhartha, destined to become the Buddha, discreetly escapes his father's palace under the cover of darkness. Four robust dwarfs skillfully hold up his horse's hooves, allowing him to depart without a sound. In stark contrast, the upper scene portrays Siddhartha's intense temptation by Mara's daughters, who lurk menacingly to his right, and the ferocious assault by Mara's armies that transpired on the night of his transformation into a buddha. This extraordinary panel originally adorned a large stupa, a distinctive hemispherical burial mound housing sacred relics, at the ancient site of Nagarjunakonda in southeastern India. Patronized by the ruling Ikshvakus dynasty, Nagarjunakonda boasted an intriguing mix of Hindu and Buddhist establishments, with male family members supporting Hindu institutions and their wives and daughters backing Buddhist ones. The dynamic imagery and exquisitely plump bodies on display are quintessential characteristics of Nagarjunakonda's art. The intricate scenes from this region likely drew inspiration from Roman influences, which had reached the area via coastal ports. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World," a groundbreaking initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks worldwide for public access at no cost. "Scan The World" is an open-source community effort, where anyone with intriguing items can contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can participate in this project.