The Distribution of the Relics.
- Gallery: Room 33
- Culture: Kushan
- Made in: Gandhara (historic - Pakistan)
- Date: 1stC-2ndC
- Object type: panel
- Materials: schist
- Museum number: 1966,1017.1
- 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.
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About this object
This is The Distribution of the Relics, a panel carved from schist and created during the 1st to 2nd century in Gandhara, now part of Pakistan. The scene centers around a grand table with richly patterned textiles, under which small spherical reliquaries with large lids are placed. Around it stand a group of figures, each with mustaches, earrings, and turbans, likely representing claimants to the Buddha's relics.
Behind the table, a seated old man, perhaps the mediator Droṇa, is shown with a beard and ornate clothing. The intricate designs on the textiles reflect the highly detailed carving style of the Gandhara region. A female figure in a flowing dress adds to the narrative, adorned with jewelry and a wreath-like headdress. This work reflects an important moment in Buddhist tradition after the Buddha's death, where his relics were divided peacefully, preventing conflict.
See it in person
The Distribution of the Relics. is on display in Room 33 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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