Blue Monkey
Archon Without Portfolio
There are actually 3 Buddhas. There is a large reclining one - evidence of which has only recently been uncovered. It would probably have looked something like the many sleeping Buddha statues found throughout East and Southeast Asia.
Yes it's a little late. But many of the key features of representations of the Buddha in later statues came out of the Greek influence along the Silk Road. And a wonder need not be of these specific statues. The idea of a monumental statue with a golden visage, whose eyes glow at night, & who pronounces like an oracle, sounds a lot like something a Greek with a talent for theater & engineering would create. And there were plenty oftourist attractions pilgrimage shrines along the trade routes throughout the Indo-Greek period.
Yes it's a little late. But many of the key features of representations of the Buddha in later statues came out of the Greek influence along the Silk Road. And a wonder need not be of these specific statues. The idea of a monumental statue with a golden visage, whose eyes glow at night, & who pronounces like an oracle, sounds a lot like something a Greek with a talent for theater & engineering would create. And there were plenty of