The Vishnu nicolo seal is a "finely engraved" oval agate seal (1.4 inches by 1.05 inch) from the Gandhara region, dated to the 4th century CE. Since 1892 it has been in the British Museum.[1]Nicolo is an abbreviation of the Italian onicolo, meaning "little onyx", a type of stone, often made of different layers in various shades of blue, used for intagli.[2]
The seal depicts a four-armed deity, probably Vishnu or Vāsudeva,[3] being prayed by a royal devotee. The deity holds Vishnu's classical attributes: the gada club, the chakra discus, the wheel and the lotus.[4][5][1] There is a two-line inscription and a monogram by the worshipper's feet.[1]
The British Museum describes the inscription as "Bactrian", transliterating it: "(1) saso reo iastoo (2) algo", translated as: "Sas-re(w) the leader of worship (?)".[1]
A more recent interpretation suggests the divinity is Vāsudeva, an early deity whose attributes were later reused in the iconography of Vishnu with the addition of an aureole.[3][8]
This recent research also identified the devotee, not with Huvishka, but with a Huna king.[6][5] The devotee could also be a Kushano-Sasanian or a Kidarite prince.[9]
The seal also suggest that a composite cult of the three deities Surya (another name for Mihira, meaning "Sun"), Vishnu and Shiva was current in India circa 500 CE.[6] However, the British Museum in 2019 gives a different reading of the inscription.[1]
Inscription of the Vishnu Nicolo SealAccording to British Museum
^King, Charles William (1866). Antique Gems: Their Origin, Uses, and Value as Interpreters of Ancient History; and as Illustrative of Ancient Art: with Hints to Gem Collectors. J. Murray. p. 11.
^ ab"A much better known «syncretistic» image is the one depicted on a well-known «nicolo» seal (....) Ghirshman thought of a composite deity (Mihira-Visnu-Siva, Ibidem: 55-58), although an identification with the god Vasudeva is perhaps more likely (Mitterwallner 1986: 10)" "Silk Road Art and Archaeology: Journal of the Institute of Silk Road Studies, Kamakura". The Institute. 1996: 170. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ abcŚaivāgamas: A Study in the Socio-economic Ideas and Institutions of Kashmir (200 B.C. to A.D. 700) V. N. Drabu, Indus Publishing, 1990 p.201
^ abcdBuddhism in Central Asia, by Baij Nath Puri, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1987, p.131-132
^Religion and Society in Ancient India, Pranabananda Jash - 1984, p.304
^For English summary, see page 80 Schmid, Charlotte (1997). Les Vaikuṇṭha gupta de Mathura : Viṣṇu ou Kṛṣṇa?. pp. 60–88.
^"South Asia Bulletin: Volume 27, Issue 2". South Asia Bulletin. University of California, Los Angeles. 2007. p. 478: A seal inscribed in Bactrian, fourth to fifth century AD, shows a Kushano - Sasanian or Kidarite official worshipping Vishnu : Pierfrancesco Callieri, Seals and Sealings from the North - West of the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan.
Referencesedit
"BM": British Museum page
Further readingedit
Callieri, Seals and Sealing, 1997, Naples (p. 190)
April 12, 2024
vishnu, nicolo, seal, finely, engraved, oval, agate, seal, inches, inch, from, gandhara, region, dated, century, since, 1892, been, british, museum, nicolo, abbreviation, italian, onicolo, meaning, little, onyx, type, stone, often, made, different, layers, var. The Vishnu nicolo seal is a finely engraved oval agate seal 1 4 inches by 1 05 inch from the Gandhara region dated to the 4th century CE Since 1892 it has been in the British Museum 1 Nicolo is an abbreviation of the Italian onicolo meaning little onyx a type of stone often made of different layers in various shades of blue used for intagli 2 Vishnu nicolo sealCast of the seal in the British Museum MaterialAgate nicolo Created4th century CEDiscoveredKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan34 00 N 71 19 E 34 N 71 32 E 34 71 32Present locationBritish Museum LondonRegistration1892 1103 98Show map of South AsiaShow map of West and Central AsiaShow map of PakistanShow map of GandharaThe seal depicts a four armed deity probably Vishnu or Vasudeva 3 being prayed by a royal devotee The deity holds Vishnu s classical attributes the gada club the chakra discus the wheel and the lotus 4 5 1 There is a two line inscription and a monogram by the worshipper s feet 1 The British Museum describes the inscription as Bactrian transliterating it 1 saso reo iastoo 2 algo translated as Sas re w the leader of worship 1 It was found in what was then the North West Frontier Province of British India now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan 1 Contents 1 Interpretations 2 Notes 3 References 4 Further readingInterpretations editThe seal was first reported by Alexander Cunningham in The Numismatic Chonicle of 1893 4 6 Cunningham saw in the devotee the Kushan emperor Huvishka who reigned about 140 180 BC based on the similarity of the headdress 5 More recently Roman Ghirshman proposed that the text on the seal was in the Kushan script and mentions three major Hindu gods Miarka Yasna Oezo meaning Mihira Vishnu Shiva Text of the Nicolo seal 6 7 A more recent interpretation suggests the divinity is Vasudeva an early deity whose attributes were later reused in the iconography of Vishnu with the addition of an aureole 3 8 This recent research also identified the devotee not with Huvishka but with a Huna king 6 5 The devotee could also be a Kushano Sasanian or a Kidarite prince 9 The seal also suggest that a composite cult of the three deities Surya another name for Mihira meaning Sun Vishnu and Shiva was current in India circa 500 CE 6 However the British Museum in 2019 gives a different reading of the inscription 1 Inscription of the Vishnu Nicolo SealAccording to British Museum Line Original Greco Bactrian script Transliteration English translation1 saso rho iathtoo saso reo iastoo Sas re w the leader of worship 2 algo algo nbsp Vishnu with similar attributes Udayagiri Caves c 5th century nbsp The devotee in the Vishnu Nicolo Seal detail nbsp Vishnu Nicolo Seal as first reported by Alexander Cunningham in 1893 Notes edit a b c d e f British Museum page King Charles William 1866 Antique Gems Their Origin Uses and Value as Interpreters of Ancient History and as Illustrative of Ancient Art with Hints to Gem Collectors J Murray p 11 a b A much better known syncretistic image is the one depicted on a well known nicolo seal Ghirshman thought of a composite deity Mihira Visnu Siva Ibidem 55 58 although an identification with the god Vasudeva is perhaps more likely Mitterwallner 1986 10 Silk Road Art and Archaeology Journal of the Institute of Silk Road Studies Kamakura The Institute 1996 170 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b 1893 Numismatic Chonicle p 126 a b c Saivagamas A Study in the Socio economic Ideas and Institutions of Kashmir 200 B C to A D 700 V N Drabu Indus Publishing 1990 p 201 a b c d Buddhism in Central Asia by Baij Nath Puri Motilal Banarsidass Publ 1987 p 131 132 Religion and Society in Ancient India Pranabananda Jash 1984 p 304 For English summary see page 80 Schmid Charlotte 1997 Les Vaikuṇṭha gupta de Mathura Viṣṇu ou Kṛṣṇa pp 60 88 South Asia Bulletin Volume 27 Issue 2 South Asia Bulletin University of California Los Angeles 2007 p 478 A seal inscribed in Bactrian fourth to fifth century AD shows a Kushano Sasanian or Kidarite official worshipping Vishnu Pierfrancesco Callieri Seals and Sealings from the North West of the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan References edit BM British Museum pageFurther reading editCallieri Seals and Sealing 1997 Naples p 190 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vishnu nicolo seal amp oldid 1214851885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
