Fragmenten van sculpturen before 1868

This print by William H. Griggs captures fragments of sculptures. Look closely at the repeated motifs: elephants, human figures, and what seems to be a wheel-like symbol, possibly a Dharma wheel. The wheel, originally a solar symbol, transformed over millennia to represent Buddhist law and teaching. We see a similar evolution in the depiction of the sun god Helios, who drives his chariot across the sky, a potent symbol of power and enlightenment. The presence of elephants, often associated with royalty and wisdom, further enriches the image, suggesting a narrative steeped in Buddhist lore. The collective memory embedded in these symbols—the Dharma wheel and the elephant—engages us on a subconscious level, stirring within us a recognition of humanity's enduring quest for enlightenment. These symbols have proven themselves to be potent visual devices with universal psychological resonance.