Highlight the Central Asian and Greco Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art.10
Model answer
Gandhara art, developed in Northwest India during Kushanas is an excellent combination of central Asian and Greco Bactrian elements.
Central Asian element
1)Drapery of Buddha statues similar to Parthian (modern Iran)drapery in Hellenistic cultures..
2)curly hair of Buddha statue also resembles similarity with parthian style.
3)disc shaped halo around Buddha head similar to Persian culture of reverence to sun.
Greek element
1)Many of Buddha sculptures of gandhara period also includes Greek God Hercules as protector..
2)face of Buddha resembles Apollo( a greek god)
3)some coins found in gandhar region had Greek script and pictographs of Greek gods
Hence foreign cultures affected Gandhara art , which portrays a beautiful mix of Indian and foreign influence
Very good answer