Lost, Stolen, and Damaged Images: The Buddhist Caves of Bamiyan

THE HUNTINGTON ARCHIVE of Buddhist and Asian Art

Lost, Stolen, and Damaged Images: Bamiyan

The Buddhist Kingdom of Bamiyan

This section on The Buddhist Caves of Bamiyan was established through a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access. It is part of a larger NEH project that supports the "Cataloguing and Digitization of Photographic Materials Related to Buddhist Art" in The Huntington Archive.

53m Brihad (Colossal) Buddha

Overview Of Cliff Face Showing Brihad (Colossal) Buddha

Brihad, or Colossal, Buddha

H: 53m/175 feet

conglomerate stone, covered with clay and stucco; originally painted

ca. 5th c A.D.

Brihad, or Colossal, Buddha

H: 53m/175 feet

conglomerate stone, covered with clay and stucco; originally painted

ca. 5th c A.D.

Brihad, or Colossal, Buddha

H: 53m/175 feet

conglomerate stone, covered with clay and stucco; originally painted

ca. 5th c A.D.

Brihad, or Colossal, Buddha

H: 53m/175 feet

conglomerate stone, covered with clay and stucco; originally painted

ca. 5th c A.D.

This drawing illustrates the method by which the craftsmen created the drapery folds by suspending ropes along the surface of the Buddha body. These were attached with wooden pegs in places and the whole covered with mud plaster.

Detail of the Head of the Buddha

Photo (c) Dr. H. Crane

View from within the niche surrounding the head of the Buddha

Photo (c) Dr. H. Crane

The following reconstructed paintings come from the east side of the image niche shown here.

Overview of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Painting of Buddha in niche surrounding head of the buddha

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Upper Niche, E Wall

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Ceiling, east section E1 and E2

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Ceiling, east section E1 and E2

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Ceiling, east section E1 and E2

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Ceiling, east section E1 and E2

Detail of Paintings in Niche:

Painting in niche 10

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Detail of Paintings in Niche

Chapels Surrounding the 53m Buddha

Plan of Chapels

Drawing by Dr. John C. Huntington, after Godard, Hackin, et al.

Interior of Cave I

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Ceiling of Cave V

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Image Niche Cave V

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

35m Brihad (Colossal) Buddha

Overview of Cliff Face showing 35m Buddha

Overview 1

Overview 2

Photo (c) Dr. H. Crane

Detail of Head

Photo (c) Dr. H. Crane

Detail of Proper Left Arm

Photo (c) Dr. H. Crane

Drawing of Ceiling from 1928

Drawings by Yedda A. Godard, from Les Antiquites Bouddhiques de Bamiyan, (Paris and Brussels: les Editions G. Van Oest, 1928).

Drawing of Ceiling from 1928

Drawings by Yedda A. Godard, from Les Antiquites Bouddhiques de Bamiyan, (Paris and Brussels: les Editions G. Van Oest, 1928).

Detail of Ceiling Painting Fragment

View of West Wall of Niche Around Head

Photo (C) John C. Huntington

Paintings in Niche

Paintings in Niche

Paintings in Niche

Chapels Surrounding the 35m Buddha

Plan of Cave Chapels at Base of 35m Buddha

From Godard, Godard, and Hackin, Les Antiquites Bouddhiques de Bamiyan, Paris and Brussels: les Editions G. Van Oest, 1928, fig. 18

Caves H and I

View of Cave H

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Painting At Top of Niche of Cave H

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Detail of Painting At Top of Niche of Cave H

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

View of Image Niche of Cave I

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Cave I

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Cave I

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Cave I

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Caves of Group C and D

Plan of Group C Caves

Graphic by Dr. John C. Huntington

Interior Ceiling of Cave in Group C, Cave HA1

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Interior Ceiling of Cave in Group C, Cave HA1

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Other View of Ceiling

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Antechamber of Cave HA2, Group C

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Antechamber of Cave HA2, Group C

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Paintings in Antechamber of Cave HA2, Group C

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Interior Ceiling of Cave in Group C, Cave HA2

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Interior Ceiling of Cave in Group C, Cave HA2

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Cave D Interior

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Cave D Interior

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Cave D1 Interior

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Cave D1 Interior

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Cave XV

Lantern Roof in Cave XV

Photo (C) Dr. H. Crane

Ceiling View

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Plan of Ceiling

Plan and Elevation from Godard, Godard, and Hackin, Les Antiquites Bouddhiques de Bamiyan, Paris and Brussels: les Editions G. Van Oest, 1928, fig. 21.

Other Views

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

Other Views

Photo (C) Dr. John C. Huntington

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