Sanchi Stupa 2: Pillar Relief

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi

Located on the west side of the east post at the northern entrance, the relief depicts a sixteen-spoked wheel mounted on top of an Asoka pillar with flower garlands about its rim. The wheel is supported on the back of an elephant flanked by lions. The animals sit on a reversed lotus bud capital that is typically seen on Asoka pillars. The grouping is a slight deviation away from the norm, as most of the Asoka pillars discovered do not depict more than one type of animal. More flower garlands and lotuses hang down the sides of the pillar and terminate at the balustrade. Beneath the balustrades, a pair of antelope rear up with their backs to an elongated lotus.