Fondukistan: Crowned Buddha

AFGHANISTAN, Parwan, Fondukistan

The Buddha’s headdress is modeled on the crown worn by the rulers of the Sassanid Empire (circa 224–651), who ruled the area at the time when this piece was made. The monastic robe is covered by a over-mantle that is embellished with jewels and tassels. The right hand is raised to the chest. The left arm has broken but the slender-fingered hand still exists and is posed below the waist. The weight of the body rests on the left leg, which is placed at an angle, while the right leg is slightly advanced. The statue was originally painted but the colors have faded.
This particular Buddha is dressed like a nobleman unlike the earlier Hellenistic statues from Gandhara. Many rulers in this region were flattered into believing that they might be the future Buddha due to the belief in Maitreya. Therefore, the form of the Buddha and the cakravartin, wheel-turning monarch, were combined, as in this case. Such lavishness in clothing is rarely found in Buddha statues outside Bamiyan and suggests how secularized Buddhism was becoming at this time.