Sarnath capital (3rd-1st century BCE) | |
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| |
Material | Stone |
Created | 3rd-1st century BCE |
Present location | Sarnath Museum, India |
The Sarnath capital is a pillar capital, sometimes also described as a "stone bracket", discovered in the archaeological excavations at the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in 1905. [1] The pillar displays Ionic volutes and palmettes. [2] [3] It used to be dated to the 3rd century BCE, during the Mauryan Empire period, [4] [1] but is now dated to the 1st century BCE, during the Sunga Empire period. [2]
One of the faces shows a galloping horse carrying a rider, while the other face shows an elephant and its mahaut. [2]
The capital is suggestive of the Hellenistic Ionic order, and is often discussed in conjunction with the Pataliputra capital. [5] [6] The two capitals have also been described as "quasi-Ionic", and compared for example to the anta capitals of the Temple of Apollo in Didyma. [7]
The capital is now located in the Sarnath Museum. [2]
Sarnath capital (3rd-1st century BCE) | |
---|---|
| |
Material | Stone |
Created | 3rd-1st century BCE |
Present location | Sarnath Museum, India |
The Sarnath capital is a pillar capital, sometimes also described as a "stone bracket", discovered in the archaeological excavations at the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in 1905. [1] The pillar displays Ionic volutes and palmettes. [2] [3] It used to be dated to the 3rd century BCE, during the Mauryan Empire period, [4] [1] but is now dated to the 1st century BCE, during the Sunga Empire period. [2]
One of the faces shows a galloping horse carrying a rider, while the other face shows an elephant and its mahaut. [2]
The capital is suggestive of the Hellenistic Ionic order, and is often discussed in conjunction with the Pataliputra capital. [5] [6] The two capitals have also been described as "quasi-Ionic", and compared for example to the anta capitals of the Temple of Apollo in Didyma. [7]
The capital is now located in the Sarnath Museum. [2]