The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c7.s1.t1.4

c7.s1.t1.4

§ 2. *Capitals.* — The great capitals which surmount the two jambs of the eastern gate are decorated with tame elephants (pl. VIII, 1). Four of these animals are placed very ingeniously about each pillar in such a way that their heads form a round embossement to the four edges of the corners. Their harness consists of a rich head-stall (from which hang in front of the ears two pendants of pearls, and behind two bells) and a tasselled saddle-cloth, kept in its place by cords which pass under their bodies and form knots on their backs. The person of distinction was seated astride in the most comfortable place on their necks : holding in his hand the special crook (*aṅkuça*), he was his own driver : and, in fact, we know that in ancient India the art of driving elephants formed an integral part of a complete education. Right on the elephant's hind quarters crouches a standard-bearer, who doubtless, in the case of a rapid motion, held on to the knot of the belly-band. As for the elephants themselves with their trunks and one of their fore-feet slightly bent back, they are, as usual, admirably rendered. Formal leaves and flowers decorate the upper part of the capitals. An inscription on the inner face of that to the left invokes imprecations on whosoever shall remove a single stone of the gate or the railing. As regards the two caryatids, see below, § 5 *a*.