39.Metal ring with rearing griffin, bull, lion, and human-headed creature

  • ca. 2nd century
  • Excavated at Brahmapurī, Kolhapur, Satara district, Maharashtra
  • Town Hall Museum, Kolhapur, Maharashtra

These bronze statues from Italy were unearthed in India’s Kolhapur, where there was a settlement during the Sātavāhana dynasty. The statues portray various scenes, including a chariot, four people riding an elephant, a water jug, and door decorations featuring the upper bodies of four animals, vividly depicting the lifestyle of the people of South India during the period. Additionally, Buddhist-related items, such as the dharmacakra symbolizing Siddhārtha’s teachings, decorations on stūpa doors, and the swastika symbol, were excavated. These findings provide insights into the extent to which Buddhism had been integrated into the daily lives of the people in South India at that time.