Anthropomorphic Representations of the Buddha Emerge

The first anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha are created in Gandhara (in present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan), with the earliest surviving example being the Bimaran reliquary. Like many images and symbols that become ubiquitous in the subcontinent due to their sociopolitical importance, the Gandhara Buddha is a mix of indigenous and external influences: the Apollonian halo; the muscular build and long, heavy robes characteristic of Greco-Roman art; and the soft facial features, the padmasana (cross-legged) position and his various mudras (gestures) derived from Buddhist scripture and styles. These features are the result of the region’s status as a geopolitical crossroads as well as renewed connections with the Mediterranean world dominated by the Roman empire. The Gandhara Buddha will become the foundation for all future representations of the Buddha across Asia.