The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c9.202

v1.c9.202

**Note to line 23, p. [ 69 ]** The Statue of Silénos is placed in so bad a light in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, that I could not, when I first examined it, correctly ascertain the character of the object which has been described as a *loṭā* or cantharus in front of the principal figure in the obverse. The object represented is the forepart of a lion issuing from a cave and not a *loṭā*. On the strength of this the Hindus might claim the group to represent Śiva, his wife Durgā, his two sons Kārtikeya, and Gaṇésa, and his demon attendant Nandī. But the beard, so uncommon in images of Śiva, and the Greek feeling and character of the grouping, are opposed to the claim.