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Buddhist and Hindu Mythology

Vibrant murals and intricate paintings illustrating sacred texts, deities, and mythical tales from Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Priest and warrior at altar to Kulkulcan, Chichenitza, AD 900. Sun symbol. Mayan, Mexico.
Priest and warrior at altar to Kulkulcan, Chichenitza, AD 900. Sun symbol. Mayan, Mexico.
249 assets in this story
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Celestial deities playing musical instruments, detail of a mural painting in the Buddhaisawan Chapel,Bangkok, Thailand.
1899-18713550
Wat Buak Khrok Luang, located in Ban Buak Khrok Luang Moo 1, Chiang Mai - Sankamphaeng Road, Chiang Mai, is a small and typically northern Thai Buddhist temple. It is believed to have been founded in the 15th century during the time of the independent Lan Na Kingdom (1292-1558), and was extensively restored during the reign of Chao Kaew Naowarat (r.1911-1939), the last King of Chiang Mai. The temple is chiefly noteworthy for its main viharn, which is purely Lan Na in inspiration, with a four-tiered roof and elegant naga balustrade entrance. The most remarkable aspect of the viharn is its extensive mural paintings, dating from around 1835 during the reign of Chao Phuttawong (r.1826-1846), the fourth ruler of the Chiang Mai Thipchang Dynasty. The murals, which are northern Thai in style with clear elements of Shan State and Konbaung Dynasty Burmese influence, are among the best in northern Thailand. They feature the jataka stories, past lives of the Buddha, and are interspersed with vern
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Luohans 17th-18th century Unidentified The Buddha achieved enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India, in the fifth century BC, beneath a tree with large, spade-shaped leaves. This tree, a type of ficus, became revered by Buddhists as the sacred Tree of Enlightenment (bodhi tree) and was propagated by believers throughout Asia. In China, painters used leaves of the bodhi tree to create albums like this, which invest the ground of the image with an extra layer of sacred power by connecting it to the Buddhas awakening. With bright, thickly applied mineral pigments, this album shows the luohans exercising their magical powers.. Luohans 38822
1890-107403
Detail of the murals of the Sang Thong Tales, painted in the late 19th century, Viharn Laikam at Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia,...
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Street Shrine by Jerome Myers, 1867-1940
1899-18787995
The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma (Myanmar), from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma. The reforms proved insufficient to stem the advance of the British, who defeated the Burmese in all three Anglo-Burmese Wars over a six-decade span (1824-1885) and ended the millennium-old Burmese monarchy in 1885.
1890-95563
Detail of early 20th century mural in the Ordination Pavilion of King Chulalongkorn showing the Great Stupa of Nakorn Pathom, at Wat Benjamabopitr, Ba...
1788-55911
Life of the dervish, painting signed Yakubi, School of Tabriz, Iran, 15th century.
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Painting of mother preparing dinner Copyright: xHimalayanxAcademy/DinodiaxPhotox
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Vishnu on world hose Ananta, Birth of Brahma, Anonymous, 1790 - 1810 Indian miniature. drawing Vishnu is on the world hose, shri-lakshmi is on his feet, the lotus flower rises from his navel on which Brahma is seated. Around the show a decorated border in blue and red with flowers, around the piped with red dots, on the outer piping, flowers stick over the rest of the leaf. Cashmir paper brush
1899-18719190
The Qianling Mausoleum is a Tang Dynasty (618-907) tomb site located in Qian County, Shaanxi province, China, and is 85 km (53 miles) northwest of Xi'an, the former Tang capital. Built by 684 (with additional construction until 706), the tombs of the mausoleum complex house the remains of various members of the royal Li family. This includes Emperor Gaozong of Tang (r. 649-683), as well as his wife, the Zhou Dynasty usurper and China's first (and only) governing empress Wu Zetian (r. 690-705). The mausoleum is renowned for its many Tang Dynasty stone statues located above ground and the mural paintings adorning the subterranean walls of the tombs. Besides the main tumulus mound and underground tomb of Gaozong and Wu Zetian, there is a total of 17 smaller attendant tombs.
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Manuscript with Festival Scenes. Burma (Myanmar), circa 1860. Manuscripts. Opaque watercolor, gold, silver, and ink on paper
1746-19666721
The Akathistos Hymn and the Last Judgement, Athanasios Doudas. 1744.
1525-26068436
blur in iran antique carpet textile handmade beautiful arabic ornament
1848-60509499
Ahamra region, Azoa Maryam round church on the Zeghie peninsula in Lake Tana, Lake Tsana or Lake Dembea, mural painting, Ethiopia, Africa
1899-18712478
Wat Ratchapradit (Rajapradit) was constructed in the mid-19th century during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). Many of the murals in the main viharn portray Thai ceremonies and festivals that take place during the year and were painted in the late-19th century.
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Sant Miquel de Balansat,iglesia(ss.XIV-XVI).Fresco (s.XVIII).Ibiza.Islas Pitiusas.Baleares.España.
1525-21925122
Thai Buddhist mural on temple wall
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Burma: a sanctuary () with towers, temples, musicians and dancers. Gouache painting.
1899-55266442
Mongkol Serei Kien Khleang Pagoda. Life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. The marriage with Princess Yasodhara at the Golden Palace. Phnom Penh; Cambodia.
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Costumes of the Nations of the World. 1574. Amman, Jost, 1539-1591. Prints. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection
1899-18791969
Manichaeism was the most important Gnostic religion. Central in the Manichaean teaching was dualism, that the world itself, and all creatures, were part of a battle between the good, represented by God, and the bad, the darkness, represented by a power driven by envy and lust. Manichaeism spread over most of the known world of the 1st millennium CE, from Spain to China. But the religion disappeared from the West in 10th century, and from China in the 14th century. Today it is extinct.
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The Resurrection ca. 1515-25 South Netherlandish. The Resurrection 468322
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The Vision of Saint John Climacus by Russian icon / State History Museum, Moscow / 16th century / Russia / Tempera on panel / Bible / 142x181 / Russian icon painting
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Paintings of village scenes with Buddha in Thailand, Wat bang riang, Thub Pat/ Paintings, Wat bang riang, Thub Pat, Phang Nga, Thailand, Asia
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Vishva Rajalakshmi Gomata ca. 1890 India The iconography of this print emerges in conjunction with the popularization of lithographic images of the Hindu gods; it has no real historic precedent. According to Pinney, such images seem to be related to the growing importance of cow protection groups who were attempting to rouse Hindu feelings against Christians and Muhammadans on account of the killing of cows”. The cow comes to embody Hindu cosmology; technically 84 gods are shown within the cow’s body, though in this example only 33 appear. This imagery played an important role in the emergence of Hindu nationalism that targeted meat-eating lower casts along with non-Hindu religious and colonial communities. Variations on this iconography were issued by most of the major presses.. Vishva Rajalakshmi Gomata. India. ca. 1890. Lithograph. Prints
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Konmara (Pya) Zat, 1850
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Mughal painting from the 17th century depicting a Hindu aesthetic
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Relief at Lady Linshui's Temple, Tainan, Taiwan, Asia
1746-5178
Battle between Nuno de Guzman and his native Tlazcalan allies against inhabitants of Michuacan. Centre: a chief (Xicotencati) carrying Tlzatian badge accompanied by war dogs. Copy of drawings of Lienzo de Tiazcala lost during revolution in 19th century
1899-18720843
Manichaeism was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia. Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani (c. 216-276 CE) have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived. Manichaeism taught an elaborate cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process which takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light from which it came. Its beliefs can be seen as a synthesis of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. Manichaeism thrived between the third and seventh centuries, and at its height was one of the most widespread religions in the world. Manichaean churches and scriptures existed as far east as China and as far west as the Roman Empire. Manichaeism survived longer in the east, and appears to have finally faded away after the 14th century in sout
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Tsar Ivan IV Terrible by Athanasius, Tempera on panel, 1550s, active 16th century, Russia, Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery, 144x396
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Murals- Epic Ramayana-Wall Paintings in Ramasamy Temple at Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India- Rama, sita and Lakshmana crossing the river Ganga. Artist Unknown
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Ramayana epic murals paintings in Ramasamy Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia. Anjaneya, Hanuman, Asia
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Shaykh Sanan and the Christian Maiden. Iran, Qajar dynasty, early 19th century/circa 13th century A.H.. Paintings. Oil on canvas
1899-18719187
The Qianling Mausoleum is a Tang Dynasty (618-907) tomb site located in Qian County, Shaanxi province, China, and is 85 km (53 miles) northwest of Xi'an, the former Tang capital. Built by 684 (with additional construction until 706), the tombs of the mausoleum complex house the remains of various members of the royal Li family. This includes Emperor Gaozong of Tang (r. 649-683), as well as his wife, the Zhou Dynasty usurper and China's first (and only) governing empress Wu Zetian (r. 690-705). The mausoleum is renowned for its many Tang Dynasty stone statues located above ground and the mural paintings adorning the subterranean walls of the tombs. Besides the main tumulus mound and underground tomb of Gaozong and Wu Zetian, there is a total of 17 smaller attendant tombs.
1899-18792166
Jonah (Hebrew: יוֹנָה, Modern Yona Tiberian Yônā; dove; Arabic: يونس‎, Yūnus or يونان, Yūnān; Greek/Latin: Ionas) is the name given in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament) to a prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel in about the 8th century BC, the eponymous central character in the Book of Jonah, famous for being swallowed by a fish or a whale, depending on translation. The Biblical story of Jonah is repeated in the Qur'an, where Jonah is identified as Yunus or Yunan.
1848-53303983
Traditional Kamasan painting, Kertha Gosa pavilion, former Hall of Justice, in Puri Semarapura Palace, Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, Asia
1909-111327104
The Druids, Bringing in the Mistletoe, George Henry and EA Hornel, 1890,
1899-18855300
The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine (Chinese: ; pinyin: Xiàotáng Shan Hàn Mù Cí) also known as the Guo Family Ancestral Hall (Chinese: ; pinyin: Xiàotángshan Guo Shì Mù Shí Cí, literally 'Xiaotang Mountain Guo Family Tomb Stone Ancestral Hall') is a funerary stone shrine from the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE) situated on slopes of the Yellow River valley in the western part of Shandong Province, China. An odometer for measuring distance was first described by Vitruvius around 27 and 23 BCE, although the actual inventor may have been Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC - c. 212 BCE) during the First Punic War. The odometer was subsequently developed in ancient China, possibly by the profuse inventor and early scientist Zhang Heng (78 CE - 139 CE) of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE). Zhang Heng is often accredited with the invention of the first odometer device in China. By the 3rd century (during the Three Kingdoms Period), the Chinese had termed the device as the 'jì l
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Thai manuscript on elephants, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia
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Nationalist Islamic series of illustrations (north African) circa 1930. Depicts scenes from the Koran including the life of Mohammed; Adam and Eve, Joseph in Egypt, Abraham sacrificing Isaac, the Kabbah in Mecca, Noah and the Flood and Ahmad Tijani(17351815), founder of the Tijaniyya Sufi order
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Ramakien, restored murals on the Phra Rabieng tour, Wat Phra Kaeo Temple, Royal Palace, Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia
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The Semitic prophet Sâlîh leads a camel from the side of a mountain, fol. 19v. 1577. text. Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection
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Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series Indian. Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series, ca. 1820-1825. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 11 1/8 x 14 3/8 in. (28.3 x 36.5 cm). These three paintings, illustrating two of Hinduisms great romantic-devotional poems, show episodes during which Radha becomes jealous of Krishnas other lovers and refuses to see him; all involve a female confidante, known as a sakhi, who works diligently to reunite the lovers. In the page from the Sat Sai, the sakhi berates Radha for torturing herself over Krishnas infidelities. In the two pages from Gita Govinda manuscripts, the sakhi delivers messages between the god and Radha. In the night scene, Krishna, ever impish, eavesdrops on the womens conversation. Asian Art ca. 1820-1825
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Glass mosaic with scenes from the parable of Siaosawat, with scenes from everyday rural life, outer wall of the Red Chapel, Wat Xieng Thong Temple, Luang Prabang, Laos, Asia
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Vietnam, Hoi An, Hainan Chinese Temple,
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Drawing. Consecration of Tenochtitlan Great Temple. Mexico City, Museum of the City. Location: CITY MUSEUM. MEXICO CITY. CIUDAD DE MEXICO.
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Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ as tahitian people by Paul Eugene Henri Gauguin, Oil on canvas, 1891, 1848-1903, USA, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 113, 7x87, 6