Classical Elements in the Decoration of Gandharan Stupas: New Interpretations

The article reexamines the visual language utilized in the architectural decoration of stupas in Gandhara. In particular, it redefines the purpose of the distinct stupa podia and re-examines the architectural components of the stupa bases to suggest a conceptualization of these monuments as thrones for the Buddhist relics housed within their domes. The classical-leaning iconography frequently observed in some architectural components of Gandharan stupas, such as the staircases, may have been employed semantically to underscore the regal connotations of the monument while simultaneously eliciting reverence and encouraging acts of devotion and generosity among the faithful.