Atlas Holding the Triratna
Kushani stone relief showing three interlocking wheels held by Atlas. One knee on the pedestal, the other raised, Atlas lifts both hands to hold each of the outer wheels; his tilted head has a vertical gash on the forehead. A cloak is knotted across his chest, a scarf falls from both shoulders and its drapery billows upwards and behind the outer wheels, somewhat resembling wings.
His eyes are ringed with narrow lids and his mouth is thin; the long straight hair falls behind the head except for some strands drawn back from over the forehead. His pedestal is plain with fillets at the top, the wheels slightly interlock, have eight spokes each and semi-circular projections prolonging them outside the rim and the same occurs on the outer wheels between the spokes inside.
Flanking this atlas figure are five kneeling and standing monks, all with hands joined, part of another above, throwing flowers and Vajrapāṇi, depicted as Hēraklês. The monks all wear their robes with their right shoulder bare, they have shaven heads without a hairline, large, almost staring eyes ringed with narrow lids and fixed expressions; Vajrapāṇi wears a long cloak knotted over the chest like that of Atlas and a short lower garment with a girdle. His eyes are like the monks, his hairstyle like that of Atlas with hair drawn over the top and round the back of the head as well as down the nape and he has the same vertical central gash on the forehead and in addition a curved gash on either side of the mouth. He holds a vajra beside his right shoulder. All the garments are densely ridged to indicate folds.
Ancient region of Gandhāra, 2nd to 3rd century CE.
Kushani stone relief showing three interlocking wheels held by Atlas. One knee on the pedestal, the other raised, Atlas lifts both hands to hold each of the outer wheels; his tilted head has a vertical gash on the forehead. A cloak is knotted across his chest, a scarf falls from both shoulders and its drapery billows upwards and behind the outer wheels, somewhat resembling wings.
His eyes are ringed with narrow lids and his mouth is thin; the long straight hair falls behind the head except for some strands drawn back from over the forehead. His pedestal is plain with fillets at the top, the wheels slightly interlock, have eight spokes each and semi-circular projections prolonging them outside the rim and the same occurs on the outer wheels between the spokes inside.
Flanking this atlas figure are five kneeling and standing monks, all with hands joined, part of another above, throwing flowers and Vajrapāṇi, depicted as Hēraklês. The monks all wear their robes with their right shoulder bare, they have shaven heads without a hairline, large, almost staring eyes ringed with narrow lids and fixed expressions; Vajrapāṇi wears a long cloak knotted over the chest like that of Atlas and a short lower garment with a girdle. His eyes are like the monks, his hairstyle like that of Atlas with hair drawn over the top and round the back of the head as well as down the nape and he has the same vertical central gash on the forehead and in addition a curved gash on either side of the mouth. He holds a vajra beside his right shoulder. All the garments are densely ridged to indicate folds.
Ancient region of Gandhāra, 2nd to 3rd century CE.