Lion Capital of Ashoka, Sarnath, India, sandstone, 3rd century BCE
The Lion Capital of Ashoka was built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in Sarnath, India
around the year 250 BCE. The statue is made of sandstone and consists of four lions each
representing specific Buddhist morals including power, courage, confidence, and pride. Other
dominant animals are also present including horses galloping around the lions in intricate detail
and also containing wheels between the horses. The base of the pillar appears almost as a flower
as it consists of flowy draping lines all the way to the base.
Such distinct details in the pillar serve to represent Buddhist symbols. The lotus flower
base serves to symbolize rising above to emerge into enlightenment, the wheels serve to
represent eternal law as seen by the purpose of wheels to keep spinning in circular motions. Such
minor details show great symbolisms as well as reveal veneration to technology of the time as
wheels served a vital purpose in travel during the 3rd century and lotus flowers showed
admirance to beauty. The lions are displayed to be fierce and confident as they further represent
power, courage, pride, and confidence.
It is evident through the stylism and iconography of the Lion Capital of Ashoka that symbolism
is very prominent in their culture and such designs reveal how they would like to be displayed to
other civilizations as powerful and advanced as shown through the confidence in the lions and
the technological advancements of the wheel as well as the horses which display further signs of
power through conquests. Such ideas are prominent through history in other cultures including
the Romans in Trajan’s column we have previously analyzed as both cultures attempt to show
power and instill fear in other civilizations through their artwork. Furthermore, the work of this
statue can be seen in present day as cultures take pride in their advancements and use symbolism
