The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider

India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

3rd century CE

Not on view

Among the most spectacular aspects of the great gateways (toranas) marking the entrances to stupa pathways—apart from sheer grandeur and scale—were the wondrous animals that projected from the ends of the gateway crossbars. This torana terminal depicts a lion with a diminutive human rider leaping from the jaws of a sea monster (makara). Prior to the excavation of this terminal in the 1960s, such gateways were known only from depictions in Andhra stupa sculptural reliefs. In 2002–3 the excavation at the Phanigiri monastery uncovered large sections of a similar gateway.

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider, Limestone, India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur 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.

Title: Torana terminal with makara, lion, and rider

Period: Ikshvaku

Date: 3rd century CE

Culture: India, reportedly Kesanapalli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: Overall: H. 22 3/4 in. (57.8 cm); W. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm); D. 39 in. (99.1 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Baudhasri Archaeological Museum, Guntur, 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.