Garland bearers
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Marble_sarcophagus_with_garlands_and_the_myth_of_Theseus_and_Ariadne_130-150_CE_Rome_%28detail%29.jpg/388px-Marble_sarcophagus_with_garlands_and_the_myth_of_Theseus_and_Ariadne_130-150_CE_Rome_%28detail%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Garland_and_amorini%2C_Gandhara%2C_c._2nd-3rd_century_AD%2C_gray_schist_-_Matsuoka_Museum_of_Art_-_Tokyo%2C_Japan.jpg/388px-Garland_and_amorini%2C_Gandhara%2C_c._2nd-3rd_century_AD%2C_gray_schist_-_Matsuoka_Museum_of_Art_-_Tokyo%2C_Japan.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Amaravati_rolls.jpg/388px-Amaravati_rolls.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Miran_Garland_bearers.jpg/388px-Miran_Garland_bearers.jpg)
Garlands bearers, typically in the form of small naked putti holding up a continuous garland very large in relation to their size, formed a popular ornamental design in classical arts, from the Greco-Roman world to India, with ramifications as far as China. In Europe they were revived in the Renaissance, and continued in later periods.
Greco-Roman art
The garland-bearer design was extremely popular in the Mediterranean.[1] It first appeared at the end of the Hellenistic period, and its popularity expanded during the Roman period.[1] The design reached a peak of popularity in the 2nd century CE, adorning sarcophagi made in Asia Minor to be sold in Rome.[1]
Greek garland bearer designs tend to be continuous, and the garlands are furnished with leaves and stems.[1] Roman garland bearer designs are segmented and often use flowers and fruits for decoration.[1]
Garland bearers were also particularly associated to the cult of Dyonisos.[2]
- Garland bearers on a Roman sarcophagus, 130-150 CE.
- Greco-Roman garland bearers, Rockefeller Museum
- Garland bearers on a sarcophagus, in Aphrodisias.
- Roman marble sarcophagus with segmented garlands decorated with flowers and fruits, 200-225 CE, Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey).[3]
Central Asia
- Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles (100-200 CE), Old Termez Archaeological Museum.
Indian art
The erotes or putti holding garlands is one of the most common motif of the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.[1] According to John Boardman, they find their origin in Hellenistic designs, rather than Roman ones.[1] The garlands had an important role in decorating Buddhist stupas.[4]
- Yakshas holding Garlands, Peshawar Museum.
- Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century CE
- Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka (25-50 CE), Mathura Museum
- Yaksha holding a garland, Amaravati stupa.
- Erotes, garland and the Buddha on the Kanishka casket
- Limestone coping fragment, Ter, Maharashtra.
- Garland bearers, Amaravati stupa, India. Chennai Government Museum
China
![Miran is located in Asia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Asia_laea_relief_location_map.jpg/200px-Asia_laea_relief_location_map.jpg)
![Miran](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
The garland bearer design can be seen in Buddhist frescoes in Miran, China, from the 3rd century CE.
- Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
- Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ a b c d e f g Ladislav, Stančo (2012). Greek Gods in the East. Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-80-246-2045-9.
- ^ Boorstin, Daniel J. (2012). The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagination. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-307-81721-1.
- ^ Yi, Joy Lidu (January 2020). The Global Connections of Gandhāran Art. p. 56.
- ^ "The garland is a very significant ornament used for the purpose of decoration on the stupas by the devotees. The devotees who carry garlands are called the 'garland-bearers'" Proceedings volume of the 18 th Annual Conference. South Indian Historical Congress. 1999. p. 342.
- v
- t
- e
- Acanthus
- Antefix
- Arabesque
- Ball flower
- Bead and reel
- Blackamoor
- Branchwork
- Bucranium
- Buta
- Cartouche
- Christmas
- Cornucopia
- Curlicue
- Dentil
- Dog-tooth
- Egg-and-dart
- Festoon
- Foil
- Gadrooning
- Garden/Lawn
- Garland bearers
- Girih
- Green Man
- Grotesque
- Guilloché
- Gul
- Hilarri
- Hood
- Interlace
- Lintel
- Margent
- Mascaron
- Meander
- Medallion
- Millefleur
- Molding
- Moresque
- Palmette
- Plant
- Peak
- Puer mingens
- Putto
- Rais-de-cœur
- Rinceau
- Rosette
- Scroll
- Spur
- Strapwork
- Trophy of arms
- Volute (Vitruvian scroll)
- Zellige
![Borromean rings.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Borromean-rings_minimal-overlap.svg/80px-Borromean-rings_minimal-overlap.svg.png)