Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art

Gandhara art,a style of Buddhist Visual art developed in the region west of Indus during kushanas. Gandhara was a Mahajanpadha with Taxila as its capital. This region was ruled by Greco-Bactrian and Central Asian, therefore, had their influence in the art style as early as 2nd century BCE to 1st century AD

Elements of Influence

Hellenistic Facial features
- Face like Greek god Apollo
- Curly Hair
- Elongated ear lobes
- Calmness and smooth surface
Muscular body
- Like greek and roman gods
Cloth Draping
- Greek Himation(wavy robes) and draping pattern on Buddha
1st Anthromorphic Representation of Buddha
- Usually, Budhha is represented with symbols like the stupa, the Bodhi tree, the empty seat, the wheel, or the footprints in other Buddhist art
Hercules, Greek God
- Sculptures of Buddha under the protection of Hercules
Contrapposto
- The upright figure of buddha is a Greco-Roman feature while Indian Buddha is usually in the seated position

Thus Gandhara art is a manifestation of Greek influence in Buddhist art flourished in Gandhara Mahajanpada.