Railing pillar
- Gallery: Room 33a
- Made in: Amaravati
- Date: 2ndC
- Object type: railing pillar
- Materials: limestone
- Museum number: 1880,0709.37
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is a fragment of a railing pillar carved in limestone, known as Palnad marble. This piece originally belonged to the Amaravati site, known for its ancient Buddhist monuments. You can see on the remaining inner side intricate carvings of lotus medallions and part of a narrative scene—possibly depicting a martial procession. It's believed to show the departure of Siddharta, the future Buddha, from his father's palace. Only a fragment of the lower carved area survives.
The pillar is inscribed, though the outer face is missing. At the top of the slab, a Brahmi script inscription records a gift by several individuals, including Lonavalavaka and his companions. This artwork dates to the 2nd century and highlights the artistry and religious devotion of ancient Amaravati. The material, limestone, was skillfully carved to produce detailed, meaningful imagery that once framed a sacred space.
See it in person
Railing pillar is on display in Room 33a at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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