This bodhisattva statue manifests the characteristics of Buddhist sculpture from Gandhara (India?), which was an important channel of communication between West, South, and Central Asia, and thus was a place where numerous different cultures crossed and mingled. The region was also a major center for early Buddhist art, which spread outward from Gandhara to other parts of Asia. In fact, the first representations of the Buddha in human form come from Gandhara (and the Mathura region (in India?)). Gandhara Buddhist statues combine elements of Indian, Greek, Roman, and Parthian sculpture. This statue, made from gray schist, has a beautiful face with perfect proportions, displaying the Hellenistic style. The figure’s realism is enhanced by the curly hair and thin layer of clothing, allowing the natural form of the body to be seen.