Beyond the Form: Observations on Wine-Symbolism and Related Figurative Themes in Gandhāran Art

Wine and related motifs hold a special place in Gandharan sculptural production as they constitute a common thread among several visual themes, including the so-called ‘Dionysiac scenes’. Despite their different nature, these themes bear indirect – yet significant – witness to a coherent pattern of shared semantic values, the core meaning of which can be considered in light of recent discoveries, data reassessment, and contextual interpretative approaches.