Stone palette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stone palettes are round cosmetic trays commonly found in the areas of Bactria and Gandhara, which usually represent Greek mythological scenes. Some of them are attributed to the Indo-Greek period in the 2nd and 1st century BCE (a few were retrieved from the Indo-Greek stratum No5 at Sirkap), and many are considered to be later realization around the 1st century CE during the time of the Indo-Parthians. They practically disappear after the 1st century. Many have been found at the archaeological site of Sirkap, in today's Pakistan.
It is thought, with some uncertainty, that these trays were used to mix fragrances.
These stone palettes provide an interesting instance of Hellenistic art in the northwestern India subcontinent which is disconnected from the Buddhist narrative to which it is usually associated in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
Only very few of these palettes are known which contain representations of the Buddha.
 Man with cup in hand, riding a Ketos sea-monster. |
 Man riding a Ketos sea-monster. |
 Banquet or funerary scene. |
|
 Man with cup, riding a Ketos sea-monster. |
 Woman in Greek clothing, riding a Ketos sea-monster. |
 Stone palette and other artifacts found in the Indo-Greek level at Sirkap (Stratum 5) |
