Vajrāpaṇi-Héraclès de la niche V2 de Tape Shotor de Haḍḍa (Afghanistan)

Abstract

The excavation of several niches and chapels at the Buddhist monastery of Tape Shotor of Hadda (Eastern Afghanistan) delivered a huge amount of moulded clay sculptures. Amongst these niches, we have chosen NR V2 which is located on the north-eastern side of the large courtyard of the Vihāra (monk cells). One of the figures animating the scene of the First Predication near the Buddha is a Vajrapāni represented with the features of the Greek Herakles with just one difference, his club is replaced by a vajra (thunderbolt of diamond). Through the high quality of its accurate execution of the Greek models, this work of Hadda, a beautiful example of Graeco-Buddhist art, created in the IInd century AD, is the result of the passing on without fail of the tradition of Hellenistic art.