The Great Departure of Prince Siddhartha
Date2nd Century
MediumGray schist
DimensionsImage: 5 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (14 x 18.4 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Eleanor B. Lehner, 1994
Object numberMF94.8.6
It was prophesied that Siddhartha Gautama, Prince of the Shakya clan, would become either a king or a Buddha. His father tried to keep him from seeing the miseries of the world in order to ensure his royal role. Although Siddhartha at first lived in regal splendor, he finally did encounter death, illness and old age. He could not continue to enjoy his advantages, and so left the palace to become an ascetic, in the Great Departure, as depicted here.
On View
Not on view
3rd or 4th century
2nd-4th century
3rd-4th century
3rd or 4th century
3rd Century
3rd or 4th century
3rd or 4th century
3rd or 4th century
900-1000
3rd or 4th century
3rd or 4th century
3rd or 4th century