Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 200 BCE to 400 CE. A skillfully carved grey schist panel depicting Herakles (Roman Hercules) wrestling with the Lernaean Hydra - the challenge of his second labor. The rendering is quite dramatic, with Herakles' head severely cocked to the side, clutching the Hydra's serpentine body with his hands, one of the monster's heads above our Hero's with an intimidating presence brandishing gnashing fangs and bristling locks. Size: 5.5" W x 7.25" H (14 cm x 18.4 cm); 9.75" H (24.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Emerging from the swamps of Lerna, the nine-headed hydra terrorized the land, attacking victims with his venom. Herakles and his nephew Iolaos set off to defeat the menacing beast. At first, Herakles shot flaming arrows at the coiled monster to lure it from its den. The hydra in turn wound one of its coils around Herakles' foot, making it difficult for the hero to escape. Herakles attacked the Hydra's many heads; however, as soon as he would destroy one, two more arose in its place! Herakles called upon Iolaos to help by torching the headless neck tendons which prevented additional heads from emerging. Once Herakles had destroyed the eight mortal heads of the beast, he chopped off the ninth immortal head - defeating him at long last. He buried the ninth head at the side of the road that led from Lerna to Elaeus and covered it with an enormous rock. He then slit open the hapless Hydra's body and dipped his arrows in the venemous blood. This sculpture depicts a harrowing moment during this dramatic conquest of the fearsom hydra!

The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and the Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. Their artistic tradition reflects the conquest of Alexander the Great and the introduction of styles from all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#136994

A large section with losses to peripheries and high pointed areas as shown. Front section possibly reattached. It also appears that there was at least one other Hydra head to the right of Herakles' body which has been lost. Normal surface wear with abraded areas. Earthen deposits in recesses.