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The Durham Gandharan Sculpture Project
This lecture will be given by Christopher Davis, Research Postgraduate, Department of Archaeology, Durham University.
This talk will trace the history of Gandharan sculpture at Durham and, using examples from the Museum, will introduce the types of sculpture that were produced for Buddhist ritual and practice in Gandhara.
Some of the earliest depictions of the Gautama Buddha were created in the ancient territory of Gandhara, located north of the Indus and south of the Pamirs. Known as the Crossroads of Asia, this region saw the exchange and mixing of cultural influences along the trade routes of the Silk Road. Under the patronage of the Kushan Empire (c.30-225 CE), Buddhism flourished and the sculpture created integrated aspects of South Asian religious philosophies with elements of Hellenistic and Greco-Roman design. Recently, a collaborative project between the Department of Archaeology and the Oriental Museum has studied and catalogued the Gandharan sculpture in the Museum’s collections. Lectures are free to Friends. For visitors the cost is £3 (£1 concession).
Contact oriental.museum@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.
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