Relief

Two Buddhist scenes. Stone relief from the base of a stupa. Pakistan, Gandhara. 3rd century. Slate. This relief depicts two Buddhist stories. Right: Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the previous universal age. Buddha Dipankara walks across the hair of a Bodhisattva, spread out in the Buddha's honour. In the next universal age (our present age) this Bodhisattva will become Buddha Shakyamuni. Left: Buddha Shakyamuni subdues the evil serpent Apalala who has repeatedly made the river break its banks. Apalala is identified by the snake's head protruding from his shoulders. Bequest from the estate of Mrs S.B. Wertheimer-Weijl.