Gandharan Terracotta Head

Rectangular card panel with painted scene of a landscape with two huntsmen; in the foreground a mounted archer holds his bow ready to nock an arrow while a fox and deer flee from him, and another deer lies dead with an arrow in the throat; the huntsman with brightly coloured tunic and trousers, dark riding coat, quiver at his hip; in the background, a fowler prepares to send out his bird of prey perched on his wrist, while his horse advances into undergrowth where a deer is hiding; mounted in a dark green card reveal. 354 grams, 46 x 36 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Scottish private collection.

Drum-shaped vessel with gently flared rim; painted interlocking geometric patterns to sidewall, low basal ring. 69 grams, 72 mm wide



Joseph G Gerena Fine Art, New York, 27 October 2003. Acquired by the present owner from the above.

A carved schist head with tightly curled hair, wreath to the brow with a vine-leaf at each temple, curled moustache and beard, ears with long lobes; mounted on a custom-made stand. 3.75 kg, 29.5 cm



Acquired 1960-1980s. From an important London, W1, collection. Private collection, England.

With the arrival of Greek colonists into Central Asia and Northern India and the establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom, came Greek culture and religion which merged with that of the local population. Greek deities, such as Dionysus, were often merged with Buddhist deities, or worshipped in their own right. The image of Dionysus as a mature male with beard and wreath is often referred to as the Indian Dionysus as it depicts the god after his triumphant return from the East with his retinue of Maenads. The adventures of Dionysus in India are recounted in the Greek epic poem, the Dionysiaca. The image of Dionysus returning from India in a chariot pulled by tigers was a favourite for Classical artists and often appeared on sarcophagi as an allegory for the rebirth of the soul. Drinking wine, dancing, and music making were popular subjects for the embellishment of early Buddhist religious centres. The Buddha condemned intoxicants, and music and dance were considered unfit for the monastic community, although they were tolerated in lay contexts. The reason for the depiction of scenes of revelry, along with the Greek god Dionysus, may be the earlier, pre-Buddhist practices celebrating abundance and agricultural prosperity, which involved wine drinking. Dionysus may have been transformed and and understood in the Gandharan context as the South Asian god Indra, whom lay followers would have known as the deity who rules over the paradise known as the Trayastrimsa heaven. As the lay Buddhist community was more concerned with having a positive rebirth (enlightenment being out of reach for all but the most learned of monks) the idea of being reborn in a heaven associated with Indra would no doubt have been attractive. It is thought that the influence of Dionysus on Indian culture may have inspired the development of the Hindu deities Shiva and Krishna, both of whom share similar characteristics to the Greek god.