Stair-riser
Unknown (Kushan)
- British Museum
[Museum inv. no.: 1880.33]
Item location
Description
Stair-riser length showing an animal being led to an altar and musicians. On the left a damaged figure in a knee-length tunic raises his right hand; his left hand may hold a vessel rather than a drum. Beside him two figures, one in a knee-length tunic with trousers girt at the ankles and with shod feet, stand on either side of an animal which they appear to be leading towards a high altar, resembling a pilaster, slightly tapering and with vestiges of base mouldings and a barrier on the moulded top. It is crossed diagonally by garlands and below is a large globular fruit. On the right of the altar a figure in a knee-length tunic and with bare legs is turned towards a spearman, also in a knee-length tunic and with the usual trousers and shod feet. Three similarly posed figures stand beyond them, dressed in the same way, one with a barrel drum, another with a lute. Beyond, a similarly dressed figure faces away, a sword hanging against his thigh from a short baldrick, and looks at a very damaged group of three figures turned to the right: one is seated; another, with hand raised as if to throw flowers, stands behind; and a third either stands or sits and perhaps holds a cup to his chest; the seated figure appears to stretch out an arm to the latter's shoulder.Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)
Drum [2585]Lute [3394]
RIdIM images
