A monolithic free standing column, the pillar bears an inscription which states that it was garuda pillar raised in honour of vasudeva by heliodorous a resident of Taxila who had been sent to the court of Bhagabhadra as an envoy of Indo Bectrian monarch, Antialkidas.
This inscription is particularly valuable historical record revealing both the relations that existed between the region and greek kingdoms of Punjab and that Greek had become follower of Hindu God Vishnu. The inscription of the name Antialkidas dates approximated errection of the pillar to 140 BC. The pillar with its bell capital carrying figure super structure resembles Ashok Pillar but is much smaller in size with more slender proportions. The power portion of the shaft is octagonal, the upper, sixteen sided with panel of thirty two facets. The carvings have Buddhist motifs such as border with geese in pairs as well as Hellenic ones such as honey suckle and the bead molding.
No comments:
Post a Comment