An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c44.254

v2.c44.254

Twelve terracotta plaques in early Gupta style not unaffected by Gandhāra tradition, representing mythological and secular scenes, e.g., Kṛṣṇa uplifting mount Govardhana and couples in various attitudes, constitute a significant discovery. Tessitori who discovered them says: ‘A general and very characteristic feature of all these reliefs is the classical treatment of the drapery and of the hair, which at once betrays the influence of the Gandhāra school. The men are represented bare-headed and beardless, with naked busts except for a collar-like ornament round their necks and a sort of narrow scarf thrown over one or both their shoulders. The females are represented variously but mostly with naked or half-naked busts, only partially covered by a scarf hanging down from head down the back and gathered up over the arms, and partly Indian and partly classical ornaments’ (*ASI—AR 1917-18*, pp. 22-3). The bodice worn by women with short sleeves and armour-like decoration bespeaks Roman influence.