100 THE GANDHARA SCULPTURES. 



by a wielder of the chisel. The nimbus that originated in 

 Assyria and arose in Greek art during the time of Alexander 

 appears in the Gandhara carvings as an attribute of the 

 Buddha, but has here assumed very large dimensions; and 

 while it is evident that Gautama's divinity had already been 

 accepted, it appears also that the nimbus had already been 

 amplified by an earlier school of draughtsmen. 



In the Gandhara sculptures the predominant influence is 

 Parthian and Persian, shown, for example, by the introduction 

 of the fire altar and of Persepolitan columns. The Parthian 

 dynasty of the first century might well account for this ; as the 

 Hellenism of the Arsakides explains the subordinate influence 

 of Greece. 



Indeed, the mixture of styles is fantastic. The Hindu lattice- 

 work and rail-pattern of wall and frieze and the tympana of 

 portals divided into lunular spaces for sculptural enrichment ; 

 Persian pillars with bell-shaped heads surmounted by twin 

 animal forms, such as crouching elephants and winged goats, 

 lions, horses, and gazelles ; Greek barrel-roofed alcoves set with 

 decorative panels, the classical torus, and columns with Corin- 

 thian base, capital, and architrave ; all these may be found in 

 one and the same composition. And yet, overborne by the fact 

 of the Alexandrine invasion, which nevertheless cannot be left 

 out of account, it has been the custom to speak of these works 

 as wrought by Greeks, and of this Art as Hellenic. 



The object of the present communication is to show reasons 

 against this view. For if a guild of Greeks cut those carvings, 

 what portion of the mongrel style should best reveal the authors' 

 knowledge and skill ? That, undoubtedly, with which the Greek 

 hand and eye were most familiar, the Hellenic portion. Turning 

 to the sculptures we find that where the dress of women, 

 especially in the folds of drapery, is most Greek, the wide 

 trousers, sleeved tunics, and shawl-like robes are Persian ; and it 

 is the Hindu form that is rendered with charming naturalism 

 and grace. In the representation, too, of the Buddha himself, 

 though a classical robe may cover both shoulders and the 



