ABSTRACT
Two Fifth-Century Bodhisattvas From Afghanistan
Don Stadtner
Adding considerably to our understanding of ancient northwestern India after the demise of the Kusans are two previously unknown marble bodhisattvas, a standing inscribed Avalokitesvara and an uninscribed seated figure posed in the so-called 'pensive-gesture'. An inscription on the base of the Avalokitesvara can be dated paleographically to the late fifth century, anticipating the celebrated inscribed Kabul Ganesa and the Uma Mahesvara from Tapa Skandar. At the same time, these two newly published sculptures furnish a transition from the earlier standing and seated marble Surya images from Khair Khaneh, probably datable to the fourth or fifth century. These two bodhisattvas, in addition, prove for the first time that marble was not restricted to Hindu subjects.