Northern India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura, Kushan period / c. 120 CE
Seated Shakyamuni Buddha
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Seated Shakyamuni Buddha as sculpture (Northern India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura, Kushan period · c. 120 CE).
This early form of the Buddha image depicts him seated on an altar under the Bodhi tree. A coiled topknot of hair and elongated earlobes refer to his life as a prince when he wore a turban and heavy earrings.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as red mottled sandstone.
The museum's collection notes: This early form of the Buddha image depicts him seated on an altar under the Bodhi tree. A coiled topknot of hair and elongated earlobes refer to his life as a prince when he wore a turban and heavy earrings. Behind his head is a solar disk, like a halo, and lions on the throne indicate the spreading of his teachings in all four directions.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSeated Shakyamuni BuddhaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.