Ancient Buddhist Statues, Reliefs & Carvings

Buddhist art is divided into two phases, Pre-iconic (from the 5th century-1st century BC) and iconic (from the 1st century BC). Anthropomorphic representations of Buddha emerged in the 1st century in Northern India where previously iconography had been in the form of friezes and wall scenes. With the influence of Alexander the Great and Hellenism, Buddhist art appropriated features from Greek art, such as wavy hair, almond-shaped eyes and a cupids-bow mouth.