Hunter King (Grotto of the)

General description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The grotto of the Hunter King or Bodhisattva Siddartha (note 1) is famous for mural paintings (note 2) with a strong Sassanian flavour. SITUATION: At walking distance from Bamiyan (LEVI 1972) in the valley of the Kakrak stream. Compare the caves of –>Kakrak Valley. ROCK ART: * LEVI (1972 edited 1984, 2000: 51): It was in these caves that a wall-painting was recovered with a strong Sassanian flavour. It has been deliberately hidden under mud … It shows a king on his throne wearing a pearl diadem with three crescents. He has a bow, a quiver and a dog and sits under a tree with stupas and flags in the background. He may have been painted as late as the eighth or ninth century. * FEROOZI & TARZI (2004: 12): The paintings consist of a decoration of concentric medallions filled with many seated Buddha articulating around the central image, the Bodhisattva Maitreya, occupying the cupola as well as at the start of the cupola where one saw a succession of sitting Buddha in different attitudes, somtimes meditating, sometimes teaching. In this frieze, under a cut pediment appears a crowned character holding a bow. T imes meditating, sometimes teaching.