10.Toy in the form of a makara
- 2nd–1st century BCE
- Uttar Pradesh, probably Kaushambi
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The makara-a mythical aquatic creature that is part crocodile, part fish-served as a vehicle for nature deities in early Buddhist art. This clay model was once wheeled, perhaps as a child's toy. Some versions may have been placed near rivers to ensure protection from aquatic dangers.
Previous