Archaeologists have made the shocking discovery of a marble Buddha statue in a temple in the ancient Egyptian port city of Berenice, shedding new light on trade links between India and ancient Rome.
Before the discovery, no representation of the Buddha had ever been found further west than Afghanistan, according to The New York Book Review. Egypt was an important stop on the trade route linking the Roman Empire to the rest of the ancient world. Berenice, which sits on the western shore of the Red Sea in modern Egypt, was a particularly busy hub until it was abandoned in the 6th century CE.
The two-foot-tall artifact, showing the torso and head of Buddha with a radiant halo of solar rays, was discovered by a Polish-American research team in a temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis.
Since the discovery in March 2022, experts have speculated that the Buddha was made in Alexandria in the 2nd century CE, as it was carved from Mediterranean marble in a hybrid style that blends Indo-Gandharan influences with the local classical tradition.
According to a press release recently issued by Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Steve Sidebotham of the University of Delaware further suggested that it would have been a thank-you gift for the merchant’s good reception by the Roman Empire.
Other objects have been found in the same temple that further our understanding of the importance of these trade routes and the resulting intercultural exchange, including two coins from the Indian kingdom of Satavahana, a bilingual inscription in Greek and Sanskrit and Hindu sacred objects, including a trinity of primeval deities.
More trending stories:
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
