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- Title
Diffusion of Ketos Imagery from the Mediterranean to the East via Gandhara.
- Authors
TANABE, Katsumi
- Abstract
The author attempts to trace the transmission of the image of Ketos in the East. First, several images of Ketos attested in the Mediterranean world are shown, and the function of Ketos as psychopompos is clarified. The diffusion of the image of Ketos was intimately related to Hellenism and therefore, it was adopted in West Asia from Hellenistic to Sasanian period via the Parthian. Furthermore, after the Invasion of Alexander the Great in Central Asia the image of Ketos was brought to Bactria by the Greco-Bactrians, and subsequently from Bactria to Gandhara by the Indo-Greeks. Especially, the image of Ketos was employed in Gandharan Buddhist art as psychopompos who helps the Buddhist deceased to be reborn after death in Buddhist paradise as is proved by stairrisers of stupa, the necklace of the Bodhisattva image and a Mahāparinirvāṇa relief. Probably, from Gandhara the image of Ketos was transmitted to Central Asia and China.
- Subjects
GANDHARA (Pakistan &; Afghanistan); SEADRAGONS; BUDDHIST art &; symbolism
- Publication
Gandharan Studies, 2015, Vol 9, p1
- ISSN
1996-9120
- Publication type
Article