Gandhara and Mathura Buddhism

For some four hundred years before the second century, the Buddha was represented only in symbols. At the end of the first century, in both Gandhara and Mathura, he suddenly was depicted in anthropomorphic form. G, where one of the two versions of the anthropomorphic B first appeared, may be taken loosely to include much of Afghanistan and the westernmost section of northern India. In 327bc, G was conquered by the armies of Alexander the Great. Although the Greek occupation lasted only a short time, it led to continued contact with the Classical West. It is not surprising, then, that the B image that developed at G had Hellenistic and especially Roman sculpture as its mode. Indeed, the features of the B often suggest those of a marble Apollo, and many details, such as drapery patterns and coiffures, recall successive styles in co...