The Butkara Stupa (Pashto: بت کړه سټوپا) is an important Buddhiststupa near Mingora, in the area of Swat, Pakistan. It may have been built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, but it is generally dated slightly later to the 2nd century BCE.
The stupa was excavated by an Italian mission (IsIOAO: Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente), led by archaeologist Domenico Faccenna from 1956, to clarify the various steps of the construction and enlargements. The mission established that the stupa was "monumentalized" by the addition of Hellenistic architectural decorations during the 2nd century BCE, suggesting a direct involvement of the Indo-Greeks, rulers of northwestern India during that period, in the development of Greco-Buddhist architecture.[1]
An Indo-Corinthian capital representing a Buddhist devotee within foliage has been found which had a reliquary and a coin of Azes II buried at its base, securely dating the sculpture to earlier than 20 BCE.[2]
The nearby Hellenistic fortifications of Barikot are also thought to be contemporary.
A large quantity of the artifacts are preserved in the National Museum of Oriental Art and the City Museum of Ancient Oriental Art in Turin (M.A.O.).
The oldest core strata (GSt 1) revealed a coin of Chandragupta Maurya and is therefore dated to the Ashokan period.[3] A coin of Menander I was found in the second oldest stratum (GSt 2).[3] A coin of Azes II was found under a plinth of the third stratum (GSt 3), which is therefore dated to the end of the 1st century BCE or the beginning of the 1st century CE.[3] The 4th stratum (GSt 4) contained late coins of Azes II and coins of the Kushan Kujula Kadphises.[3]
Seated Buddha statueedit
Butkara I stupa, in-situ seated Buddha, 1st-2nd century CE.[4]
The in-situ seated Buddha (or Bodhisattva) statue at Butkara is considered one of the earliest, if not the earliest, known iconographical statues of the Buddha in northwestern India.[4] Van Lohuizen-de Leeuw considers that the statue dates to the late 1st century BCE to the early 1st century, as it was discovered in the GSt 3 stratum that contained a coins of Azes II.[4] More conservative estimates date it to the 1st-2nd century CE, roughly at the same time the first known statues of the Buddha were made in the art of Mathura.[4] Probably the earliest known statue of the Buddha in the art of Mathura is the "Isapur Buddha", dated to circa 15 CE.[5] This would make the creation of the Buddha image an approximately simultaneous phenomenon between the two geographical areas.[4]
Galleryedit
Head of the Buddha. Butkara I, 2nd century CE
Buddhist relief with warrior. Butkara I, 1st century CE.
Statue at the site
Alchon Hun devotee, Butkara I (construction phase 4), 5th century CE.[6]
^"De l'Indus a l'Oxus: archaeologie de l'Asie Centrale", Pierfrancesco Callieri, p212: "The diffusion, from the second century BCE, of Hellenistic influences in the architecture of Swat is also attested by the archaeological searches at the sanctuary of Butkara I, which saw its stupa "monumentalized" at that exact time by basal elements and decorative alcoves derived from Hellenistic architecture".
^The Turin City Museum of Ancient Art Text and photographic reference: Terre Lontane > O2 12 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
^ abcdHandbuch der Orientalistik, Kurt A. Behrendt, BRILL, 2004, p.49 sig
^ abcdeRhi, Ju-Hyung (1994). "From Bodhisattva to Buddha: The Beginning of Iconic Representation in Buddhist Art". Artibus Asiae. 54 (3/4): 220, Fig.12. doi:10.2307/3250056. JSTOR 3250056.
^Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. pp. 199–206, 204 for the exact date. ISBN9789004155374.
^de la Vaissiere, Etienne (2007). "A Note on the Schøyen Copper Scroll: Bactrian or Indian?" (PDF). Bulletin of the Asia Institute. 21: 127. JSTOR i24047314. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
Referencesedit
(Pdf, Italian)
Domenico Faccenna, Butkara I (Swat, Pakistan), 1956–1962, Roma, 1962-1981
External linksedit
Other capitals from Butkara I in Srinivasan, D.M. (2007). On The Cusp Of An Era Art In The Pre Kuṣāṇa World. BRILL. pp. Fig. 7.18 and 7.19.
January 01, 1970
butkara, stupa, pashto, بت, کړه, سټوپا, important, buddhist, stupa, near, mingora, area, swat, pakistan, have, been, built, mauryan, emperor, ashoka, generally, dated, slightly, later, century, بت, کړہ, سټوپاremains, shown, within, pakistanshow, pakistan, gand. The Butkara Stupa Pashto بت کړه سټوپا is an important Buddhist stupa near Mingora in the area of Swat Pakistan It may have been built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka but it is generally dated slightly later to the 2nd century BCE Butkara Stupaبت کړہ سټوپاRemains of the Butkara StupaShown within PakistanShow map of PakistanButkara Stupa Gandhara Show map of GandharaLocationSwat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PakistanCoordinates34 45 26 N 72 21 44 E 34 7571 N 72 3622 E 34 7571 72 3622TypeBuddhist stupaHistoryFounded2nd century BCEPeriodsGandhara The stupa was enlarged on five occasions during the following centuries every time by building over and encapsulating the previous structure Contents 1 Excavation 2 Coinage and datation 3 Seated Buddha statue 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksExcavation edit nbsp Evolution of the Butkara stupa The stupa was excavated by an Italian mission IsIOAO Istituto Italiano per l Africa e l Oriente led by archaeologist Domenico Faccenna from 1956 to clarify the various steps of the construction and enlargements The mission established that the stupa was monumentalized by the addition of Hellenistic architectural decorations during the 2nd century BCE suggesting a direct involvement of the Indo Greeks rulers of northwestern India during that period in the development of Greco Buddhist architecture 1 An Indo Corinthian capital representing a Buddhist devotee within foliage has been found which had a reliquary and a coin of Azes II buried at its base securely dating the sculpture to earlier than 20 BCE 2 The nearby Hellenistic fortifications of Barikot are also thought to be contemporary A large quantity of the artifacts are preserved in the National Museum of Oriental Art and the City Museum of Ancient Oriental Art in Turin M A O nbsp Ruins of Butkara I nbsp Indo Scythian devotee Butkara I nbsp Indo Corinthian capital representing a Buddhist devotee wearing a Greek cloak chlamys with fibula Butkara Stupa National Museum of Oriental Art Rome nbsp The Indo Corinthian capital from Butkara Stupa under which a coin of Azes II was found Dated to 20 BCE or earlier Turin City Museum of Ancient Art Coinage and datation editThe oldest core strata GSt 1 revealed a coin of Chandragupta Maurya and is therefore dated to the Ashokan period 3 A coin of Menander I was found in the second oldest stratum GSt 2 3 A coin of Azes II was found under a plinth of the third stratum GSt 3 which is therefore dated to the end of the 1st century BCE or the beginning of the 1st century CE 3 The 4th stratum GSt 4 contained late coins of Azes II and coins of the Kushan Kujula Kadphises 3 Seated Buddha statue edit nbsp Butkara I stupa in situ seated Buddha 1st 2nd century CE 4 The in situ seated Buddha or Bodhisattva statue at Butkara is considered one of the earliest if not the earliest known iconographical statues of the Buddha in northwestern India 4 Van Lohuizen de Leeuw considers that the statue dates to the late 1st century BCE to the early 1st century as it was discovered in the GSt 3 stratum that contained a coins of Azes II 4 More conservative estimates date it to the 1st 2nd century CE roughly at the same time the first known statues of the Buddha were made in the art of Mathura 4 Probably the earliest known statue of the Buddha in the art of Mathura is the Isapur Buddha dated to circa 15 CE 5 This would make the creation of the Buddha image an approximately simultaneous phenomenon between the two geographical areas 4 Gallery edit nbsp Head of the Buddha Butkara I 2nd century CE nbsp Buddhist relief with warrior Butkara I 1st century CE nbsp Statue at the site nbsp Alchon Hun devotee Butkara I construction phase 4 5th century CE 6 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Butkara Chakhil i Ghoundi stupaNotes edit De l Indus a l Oxus archaeologie de l Asie Centrale Pierfrancesco Callieri p212 The diffusion from the second century BCE of Hellenistic influences in the architecture of Swat is also attested by the archaeological searches at the sanctuary of Butkara I which saw its stupa monumentalized at that exact time by basal elements and decorative alcoves derived from Hellenistic architecture The Turin City Museum of Ancient Art Text and photographic reference Terre Lontane gt O2 Archived 12 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine a b c d Handbuch der Orientalistik Kurt A Behrendt BRILL 2004 p 49 sig a b c d e Rhi Ju Hyung 1994 From Bodhisattva to Buddha The Beginning of Iconic Representation in Buddhist Art Artibus Asiae 54 3 4 220 Fig 12 doi 10 2307 3250056 JSTOR 3250056 Quintanilla Sonya Rhie 2007 History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura Ca 150 BCE 100 CE BRILL pp 199 206 204 for the exact date ISBN 9789004155374 de la Vaissiere Etienne 2007 A Note on the Schoyen Copper Scroll Bactrian or Indian PDF Bulletin of the Asia Institute 21 127 JSTOR i24047314 Retrieved 8 July 2018 References editReport of the Italian Archaeological Mission Pdf Italian Domenico Faccenna Butkara I Swat Pakistan 1956 1962 Roma 1962 1981External links editOther capitals from Butkara I in Srinivasan D M 2007 On The Cusp Of An Era Art In The Pre Kuṣaṇa World BRILL pp Fig 7 18 and 7 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Butkara Stupa amp oldid 1170038824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
