The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c11.s1.206

c11.s1.206

II. -- Upper scene. Prince Siddhârtha, preceded by his guard and followed by his court, is seated under a parasol on a four-wheeled chariot drawn by horses, very poorly designed (cf. p. 251) : he has just met (as may be seen on the left) an old mendicant, leaning on a stick and led by a child; and à propos of this unexpected rencontre he learns through the mouth of his squire the existence of old age. This is the first of the four promenades (cf. pl. XXXI, 2). Lower scene. Cf. p. 230. It will be observed that we do not see here, as in Gandhâra and even at Amarâvatî, an executioner lay his obedient, but cruel, hand upon the Bodhisattva; still less does this latter appear as in Central Asia, with his skeleton almost entirely stripped of flesh. Such a horrible sight would jar too strangely at Boro-Budur.