Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s1.15

v2.c8.s1.15

The sculpture of this *vihāra* has a considerable number of figures with four hands, among which the several *Gaṇas* on the back row of the pillars¹ and an ogress attacking the Buddha in the chapel on the right of the antechamber are prominent. The presence of these figures indicates a comparatively later period for the age of the *vihāra*, which view is confirmed by the inscriptions painted in this cave. Mr. J. Allan, Keeper of Coins and Medals in the British Museum, has studied these inscriptions most ably, and according to him they belong to the period 500-550 A.D.² In Part I, I have stated that the fifth century is the probable date of the frescoes of Cave I, and although there is a resemblance in one or two frescoes of that cave to the style of some of the paintings of Cave II, yet the majority of those in the former cave are different in spirit and technique from those of Cave II. In the latter cave, the artist's For further information, *vide infra*, pp. 53-55.