DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0180
162
IDOLS OF BAMEEAN.
CHAP. VI.
is not unlike that of the great trifaced idol of Ele-
phanta. At Manikyala, in the Punjab, near the
celebrated " tope," I found a glass or cornelian
antique, which exactly resembles this head. In the
paintings over the idols I observed a close resem-
blance to the images of the Jain temples in Western
India, on Mount Aboo, Girnar, and Palitana in
Kattywar. I judge the figures to be female; but
they are very rude; though the colours in which
they are sketched are bright and beautiful. There
is nothing in the images of Bameean to evince any
great advancement in the arts, or what the most
common people might not have easily executed.
They cannot, certainly, be referred to the Greek
invasion ; nor arc they mentioned by any of the
historians of Alexander's expedition. I find in the
history of Timourlane, that both the idols and exca-
vations of Bameean are described by Sherif o deen,
his historian. The idols are there stated to be so
high that none of the archers could strike the head.
They are called Lat and Munat; two celebrated
idols which are mentioned in the Koran : the writer
also alludes to the road which led up to their sum-
mit from the interior of the hill. There are no in-
scriptions at Bameean to guide us in their history;
and the whole of the later traditions are so mixed
up with Ali, the son-in-law of Mahommed, who, we
well know, never came into this part 'of Asia, that
they are most unsatisfactory. It is by no means
improbable that we owe the idols of Bameean to the
caprice of some person of rank, who resided in this
cave-digging neighbourhood, and sought for an
IDOLS OF BAMEEAN.
CHAP. VI.
is not unlike that of the great trifaced idol of Ele-
phanta. At Manikyala, in the Punjab, near the
celebrated " tope," I found a glass or cornelian
antique, which exactly resembles this head. In the
paintings over the idols I observed a close resem-
blance to the images of the Jain temples in Western
India, on Mount Aboo, Girnar, and Palitana in
Kattywar. I judge the figures to be female; but
they are very rude; though the colours in which
they are sketched are bright and beautiful. There
is nothing in the images of Bameean to evince any
great advancement in the arts, or what the most
common people might not have easily executed.
They cannot, certainly, be referred to the Greek
invasion ; nor arc they mentioned by any of the
historians of Alexander's expedition. I find in the
history of Timourlane, that both the idols and exca-
vations of Bameean are described by Sherif o deen,
his historian. The idols are there stated to be so
high that none of the archers could strike the head.
They are called Lat and Munat; two celebrated
idols which are mentioned in the Koran : the writer
also alludes to the road which led up to their sum-
mit from the interior of the hill. There are no in-
scriptions at Bameean to guide us in their history;
and the whole of the later traditions are so mixed
up with Ali, the son-in-law of Mahommed, who, we
well know, never came into this part 'of Asia, that
they are most unsatisfactory. It is by no means
improbable that we owe the idols of Bameean to the
caprice of some person of rank, who resided in this
cave-digging neighbourhood, and sought for an