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PathsThe Hellenistic echo

Path 09 of 17 · 20 works

The Hellenistic echo

Aquiline noses, straight brow lines, deep-set gazes and expressive pathos: on many faces from Haḍḍa, the canons of Hellenistic art blend with Indian ones. This tour brings together twenty sculptures where this influence is most visible: Buddha profiles, Bodhisattvas with the grace of putti, deities, grimacing heads and demons with handsome, stern faces.

Locate these works on the excavation plan(4/20)
  1. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The face is of Hellenistic inspiration: straight brow line, aquiline nose and fine mouth.

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  2. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The features show strong Hellenistic influence: straight-cut eyes, a long aquiline nose and a jutting chin.

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  3. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    Classical features: marked brow, straight-cut eye, aquiline nose, fine mouth.

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  4. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The fine oval face is Hellenising: straight brow, prominent eyes, high cheekbones.

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  5. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa-i Kafarihā · Stucco

    Only the mask of the face remains, with a Hellenising profile: swollen eyelids over half-closed eyes, high cheekbones.

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  6. Head of Buddha

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    Head of Buddha

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The synthesis in a single head: the type is Hellenistic in inspiration, the round, chubby face in the Indian manner.

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  7. Head of Bodhisattva

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    Head of Bodhisattva

    Tapa-i Kafarihā · Stucco

    The round, idealised face of this Bodhisattva with a Hellenising profile recalls that of certain putti.

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  8. Head of Bodhisattva

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    Head of Bodhisattva

    Tapa-i Kafarihā · Stucco

    Of an entirely feminine grace, he wears a diadem with a worked band topped by a fan-shaped palmette.

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  9. Head of Bodhisattva

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    Head of Bodhisattva

    Bāgh Gaï · Stucco

    The hair is arranged in large curls rolled upon themselves, framing the forehead.

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  10. Head of Bodhisattva

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    Head of Bodhisattva

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The delicate, feminising face reveals Hellenistic influence; the posture suggests movement.

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  11. Head of Bodhisattva

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    Head of Bodhisattva

    Bāgh Gaï · Stucco

    The Hellenising influence shows in the execution of the face, the expression of the gaze and the movement of the figure.

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  12. Head of goddess Hāritī topped by the City

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    Head of goddess Hāritī topped by the City

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The goddess Hāritī crowned by the City: an Indian iconography inspired by a Hellenistic model.

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  13. Head of Vajrapāṇi

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    Head of Vajrapāṇi

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    Vajrapāṇi, with furrowed brows and a deep gaze, is inspired by Hellenistic works.

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  14. Torso of Demon

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    Torso of Demon

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    The expression is that of Hellenistic pathos: deep gaze, parted lips. The torso is restored on its bust at the Guimet museum.

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  15. Head of Demon

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    Head of Demon

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    Neither deformed nor grimacing: the demon's face is handsome and stern, brows furrowed, gaze hard.

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  16. Grimacing head

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    Grimacing head

    Tapa Kalān · Stucco

    This short-haired young man, Hellenistic in inspiration, expresses sadness or resignation.

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  17. Tête grimaçante

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    Tête grimaçante

    Bāgh Gaï · Stucco

    Grimacing beneath a great mass of shaggy hair: furrowed brows, grave eyes, parted lips.

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  18. Head of Brahman

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    Head of Brahman

    Bāgh Gaï · Stucco

    This brahman's strongly Hellenised features recall certain classical works: wrinkled forehead, furrowed brows, sunken eyes.

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  19. Head of brahman

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    Head of brahman

    Tapa-i Kafarihā · Stucco

    A Hellenising type: knitted brow, deep gaze, parted lips beneath thick wavy locks.

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  20. Head of a young donor

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    Head of a young donor

    Tapa-i Kafarihā · Stucco

    The Hellenising character is striking: deep gaze, curved nose, parted lips.

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