Path 04 of 17 · 15 works
Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
This path gathers fifteen narrative schist reliefs illustrating episodes from the life of Siddhārtha Gautama and the Jātaka tales. From Tapa Kalān and pieces with lost provenance at Haḍḍa, these carved panels depict the Great Departure, the Seven Steps, the Dīpaṁkara Jātaka and other scenes. These reliefs bear witness to the narrative tradition of Gandhāran art.
1 / 15
Scene from the Buddha's life
Tapa Kalān · Stucco
Scene from the life of the Buddha from Tapa Kalān. This stucco narrative relief depicts an episode from the Buddha's life.
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2 / 15
Scene from the Buddha's life
Tapa Kalān · Siliceous Limestone
Scene from the life of the Buddha from Tapa Kalān. This relief complements the previous one in the narrative sequence.
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3 / 15
Interpretation of the Dream
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Interpretation of the Dream. This schist relief comes from Haḍḍa (exact provenance lost) and represents the dream interpretation scene.
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4 / 15
Seven Steps of Siddhārtha
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Seven Steps of Siddhārtha. Schist relief showing the seven steps of Prince Siddhārtha after his birth.
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5 / 15
Return to Kapilavastu
Tapa Kalān · Schist
Return to Kapilavastu. This relief from Tapa Kalān depicts the Buddha's return to his native city.
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6 / 15
Return to Kapilavastu
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Return to Kapilavastu. Second version of this scene, from Haḍḍa (lost provenance).
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7 / 15
Presentation to the Gods (?)
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Presentation to the Gods (?). Schist relief whose identification remains hypothetical.
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8 / 15
Siddhārtha and Kanthaka
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Siddhārtha and Kanthaka. This schist relief shows Prince Siddhārtha with his horse Kanthaka.
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9 / 15
Contest of strength
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Contest of strength. Schist relief depicting a contest of strength, an episode from Siddhārtha's youth.
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10 / 15
Unidentified scene
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Unidentified scene. This schist relief comes from Haḍḍa but the depicted scene has not been formally identified.
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11 / 15
Great Departure
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
The Great Departure. This schist relief illustrates the moment when Siddhārtha leaves his father's palace to begin his spiritual quest.
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12 / 15
Great Departure (?)
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
The Great Departure (?). Second possible representation of the Great Departure scene, from Haḍḍa.
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13 / 15
Dīpaṁkara Jātaka
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Dīpaṁkara Jātaka. This schist relief depicts the famous Jātaka of Buddha Dīpaṁkara, one of the most popular narratives in the Gandhāran repertoire.
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14 / 15
Dīpaṁkara Jātaka
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Dīpaṁkara Jātaka. Second representation of the same Jātaka, allowing comparison between the two versions.
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15 / 15
Abandonment of the Princely Clothes
Haḍḍa, lost location · Schist
Abandonment of the Princely Clothes. This schist relief shows the moment when Siddhārtha abandons his princely garments, marking his renunciation of the world.
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