The Sarnath capital front (actual view) and back (reconstructed from available photographs).
Material
Stone
Created
3rd-1st century BCE
Present location
Sarnath Museum, India
Sarnath
The Sarnath capital is a pillar capital, sometimes also described as a "stone bracket", discovered in the archaeological excavations at the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in 1905.[1] The pillar displays Ionic volutes and palmettes.[2][3] It used to be dated to the 3rd century BCE, during the Mauryan Empire period,[4][1] but is now dated to the 1st century BCE, during the Sunga Empire period.[2]
One of the faces shows a galloping horse carrying a rider, while the other face shows an elephant and its mahaut.[2]
The capital is suggestive of the Hellenistic Ionic order, and is often discussed in conjunction with the Pataliputra capital.[5][6] The two capitals have also been described as "quasi-Ionic", and compared for example to the anta capitals of the Temple of Apollo in Didyma.[7]
The capital is now located in the Sarnath Museum.[2]
Reconstruction of the full capital by Percy Brown
Frontal views of the Sarnath capital, in the Sarnath Museum
^ abArchaeological Survey Of India Annual Report 1906-7. 1909. p. 72.
^ abcdMani, B. R. (2012). Sarnath : Archaeology, Art and Architecture. Archaeological Survey of India. p. 60.
^Majumdar, B. (1937). Guide to Sarnath. p. 41.
^Presented as a "Mauryan capital, 250 BC" with the addition of recumbent lions at the base, in the page "Types of early capitals" in Brown, Percy (1959). Indian Architecture (Buddhist And Hindu). p. x.
^"Stone brackets or capitals suggestive of the Ionic order" in Allchin, F. R.; Erdosy, George (1995). The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States. Cambridge University Press. p. 258. ISBN 9780521376952.
^Allchin, F. R.; Erdosy, George (1995). The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States. Cambridge University Press. p. xi, note of figure 11.30. ISBN 9780521376952.
^Banerjee, Gauranga Nath (1920). Hellenism in ancient India. Calcutta: Butterworth & co. p. 46.
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have similarities, and the "rather cold, hieratic style" of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka especially shows "obvious Achaemenid and Sargonid influence"...
became a republic. It is based on the Lion Capital of Ashoka, a sculpture that was originally erected at the Sarnath, a place where Gautama Buddha first taught...
the capital has been described as quasi-Ionic. Greek influence, as well as Persian Achaemenid influence have been suggested. The Sarnathcapital is a...
Pataliputra capital, dated to the 3rd century BC, and seemingly derived from the design of the Ionic anta capital, or the Sarnathcapital, which has been...
renowned Lion Capital of Ashoka which crowned the Sarnath Minor Pillar Edict, or the very similar, but less well preserved Sanchi lion capital which crowned...
renowned Lion Capital of Ashoka which crowned the Sarnath Minor Pillar Edict, or the very similar, but less well preserved Sanchi lion capital which crowned...
influence. Other centres emerged during the period, especially at Sarnath. Both Mathura and Sarnath exported sculpture to other parts of northern India. It is...
incorporated it. One capital from Sarnath is known, which seems to be an adaptation of the design of the Pataliputra capital. This other capital is also said...
most of the other countries India too has a national emblem—the Lion Capital of Sarnath. Apart from India's national emblem, each of its States and Union...
sacred to Buddhist. Sarnath: a place where he held his first public discourse. Also at Sarnath is the Ashoka Pillar with the Lion Capital, is important archaeological...
most of the other countries India, has a national emblem—the Lion Capital of Sarnath. Apart from India's national emblem, each of its states and union...
most of the other countries India too has a national emblem—the Lion Capital of Sarnath. Apart from India's national emblem, each of its States and Union...
animal capital as a finely carved lifelike representation, noteworthy are the lion capital of Sarnath, the bull capital of Rampurva and the lion capital of...
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Govindachandra came from a Rashtrakuta branch that ruled in Bodh Gaya. Her Sarnath inscription mentions the Gahadavalas and the Rashtrakutas as two distinct...
found in 1904–1905 by German archaeologist F.O. Oertel (1862–1942) in Sarnath, India. The statue has been decisive in matching the reign of Kanishka...
consisting of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar with the Sarnath Lion Capital above. It has "Telangana Prabhutvamu" in Telugu."Government of Telangana"...
a kingdom of the same name of 2,500 years ago. The Lion capital of Ashoka at nearby Sarnath has been interpreted to be a commemoration of the Buddha's...
capital city of North Central Province and the capital of Anuradhapura District. The city lies 205 kilometers (127 mi) north of the current capital of...
Moral Law, which the four lions had originally supported." "Lion Capital of Ashoka At Sarnath Archaeological Museum Near Varanasi India". YouTube. Archived...
trading capital Illarnek. Here lies the fabled Land of Mnar, whose gray stones are etched with signs and where rise the ruins of the great Sarnath. The South...
Nepal. "Maha Bodhi Temple" at Bodh Gaya Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath Ancient Buddhist Monastery at Sarnath Parinirvana Stupa at Kushinagar Remains of ancient stupas...
Global Information
Reconstruction of the full capital by Percy Brown
Frontal views of the Sarnath capital, in the Sarnath Museum
