Stepped Pyramid as a Decorative Motif in the Buddhist Art of Uḍḍiyāna:

Its Origin, Evolution, Diversity and Symbolism

Abstract

The scenic valley of Swat, historically known as Uḍḍiyāna, is renowned for its rich Buddhist heritage in art and architecture. This region is dotted with impressive stūpas, monasteries, and vihāras. These sanctuaries were exquisitely adorned with relief and portrait sculptures. Through extensive excavations by foreign and indigenous organizations, a wealth of Buddhist sculpture has been unearthed, shedding light on the Valley’s illustrious past. Apart from indigenous features, the Buddhist art of Uḍḍiyāna was heavily influenced by Hellenistic, Roman, Mesopotamian, Persian and Central Asian cultures. The sculptural reliefs portray captivating architectural elements that serve as a powerful means of expression, offering a comprehensive visual representation of the historical developments that have influenced the art created in the region.

The stepped pyramid or stepped merlon as a decorative motif in the Buddhist art of Gandhāra and Uḍḍiyāna is a recurrent architectural element known for its series of stacked, progressively decreasing tiers or steps. It is commonly employed as an embellishment in relief sculptures and sometimes used as an architectural ornamentation. In this context, the present study aims to investigate the use of the stepped pyramid as a decorative motif abundantly found in the Buddhist art of ancient Uḍḍiyāna. The investigation commences by tracing the origins of this motif, which can be found in the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. It explores how this design was initially utilised by the Egyptians, Nabataeans, Achaemenids and subsequently adopted by the Buddhist communities of northwest India. It then provides a conceptual framework that aims to elucidate the reasons behind the use and the symbolic significance of this ornate motif in the context of Buddhist art within Uḍḍiyāna. Through a thematic analysis of relevant literature and an examination of existing architectural and sculptural remnants, we can infer that the stepped pyramid as decorative pattern enjoyed both religious and worldly significance.