Artwork preview

Dharma-wheel pilaster (dharmacakrastambha)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture is made of stone and features a large wheel with a circle at its center. The wheel has lines radiating from the circle, resembling sun rays. A border surrounds the wheel, adorned with carvings. At the bottom, there are three horizontal lines representing a table or altar. Two lions are positioned on either side, each lying down and facing inward toward the wheel. The top of the sculpture is irregularly shaped, with areas broken off or worn away. The background of the image transitions from dark gray at the top to light gray and white at the bottom.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. early 3rd century CE
Medium:
Limestone
Culture:
Andhra Pradesh, possibly Ghantasala, Krishna district
Dimensions:
468 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette