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HADB N° : 442
Technique : Sculpture
Object Type : Historiated bas-relief
Material : Schist
Site : Haḍḍa
Museum : National Museum of Afghanistan
Museum Registration Number : MK 3
Findspot : Tapa Kalān
Number of Findspot : 140
Dimensions : h = 23 cm ; l = 19 cm
Traces of Polychromy : No
Type of Restoration : No restauration

Description :

The left end of this partially broken bas-relief depicts a walking elephant leading a woman, recognisable by her anklets, and perhaps her child in a palanquin. It probably represents the return of Māyā, after the birth of Siddhārtha, to Kapilavastu. In Gandhāran art, this scene is frequently depicted, with or without the child in the palanquin. A flowering tree appears on the back of the mahout which is on the neck of the elephant, commemorating the birth.

Observation :

The schist reliefs discovered by Barthoux between 1926 and 1928 are mostly from the vicinity of the Great Stūpa K1 of Tapa-i Kafarihā, the south-western part of the main stūpa B12 of Bāgh Gaï (around B13) and the Great Stūpa TK140 of Tapa Kalān.

Comparative Study :

HADB no. 443

Bibliographical References :

DAGENS Bruno - 1964 - Monuments préislamiques d’Afghanistan - pl. I, n°4

MIYAJI - 1979 - The Silk Road Museums - fig. 222

TISSOT Francine - 2006 - Catalogue of the National Museum of Afghanistan (1931 – 1985) - 360, K.p. Ha. 937.4.