Swat: Life of the Buddha - Birth of Prince Siddhartha

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat

The panel is framed by Corinthian columns and depicts the first seven steps of the newborn Prince Siddhartha. A nimbus surrounds the young Prince’s head as he stands in the center of a balanced composition. Sakra is to his right wearing a turban and dressed like a Kushan noble. He is holding the vajra that is his sign of office. The bearded Brahma stands on the other side, dressed like a brahmin priest, with a vase in his hand and his hair tied up. Figures standing in dramatic attitudes are on either side of the gods. Immediately behind the Prince is a damaged attendant carrying a whisk and the handle of a canopy, objects used by the royalty of ancient India.