Buddha Head

3D Model

Heavily polished Buddha head made of dark grey schist, a material associated with the region. The ushnisha (uṣṇīṣa) on top of the Buddha’s head signifies wisdom. The stylized locks of hair arranged in a top knot resemble those on Greco-Roman statues of Apollo. The Urna (ūrṇā), a circular dot placed on the forehead of the Buddha, symbolizes the eye of wisdom and the vision into the divine. The elongated ear lobes, stretched by heavy jewelry, hint at the Buddha’s early life as a prince who lived in luxury.

Penn Museum Object Number: 29-88-2

https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/136949