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Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels

India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

late 3rd century CE

Not on view

This beautifully realized panel presents four key moments in the Buddha’s spiritual journey (right to left): Prince Siddhartha proclaims his intention to renounce his royal privilege, leaves his father’s palace in the Great Departure, resists the temptations of the demonic celestial king Mara, and delivers a sermon as the Buddha. Sculpted in a mature Nagarjunakonda style, each scene is contained within a lotus-edged roundel separated by amorous couples (mithunas) who stand on lotus pedestals between garlanded pilasters. Acanthus-leaf designs luxuriantly fill the voids surrounding the roundels. A long inscription on the upper molding records it as the gift of the leader of a guild, dedicated in the late third century CE.

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Ayaka cornice with four narrative roundels

Period: Ikshvaku

Date: late 3rd century CE

Culture: India, Nagarjunakonda, Gunter District, Andhra Pradesh

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: H. 22 1/6 in. (56 cm); W. 100 13/16 in. (256 cm); D. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Archaeological Museum ASI, Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh

Rights and Reproduction: Photo by Theirry Ollivier

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.