LION CAPITAL

1. Background

• The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four ‘Indian Lions’ standing back to back. 
• It was originally placed atop the Aśoka pillar at Sarnath, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India by Emperor Ashoka, circa 250 BC. 
• The pillar, sometimes called the Aśoka Column, is still in its original location, but the Lion Capital is now in the Sarnath Museum. 
• This Lion Capital of Ashoka from Saranath has been adopted as the National Emblem of India and the wheel ‘Ashoka Chakra’ from its base was placed in the centre of the National Flag of India. 
• The capital contains four (Indian/Asiatic Lions), standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by intervening spoked chariot-wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. 
• Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital was believed to be crowned by a 'Wheel of Dharma' (Dharmachakra popularly known in India as the "Ashoka Chakra"), which has now been lost. 

2. About Lion Capital

• This is the famous original sandstone sculpted Lion Capital of Ashoka preserved at Saranath Museum which was originally erected around 250 BCE atop an Ashoka Pillar at Saranath. 
• The original Lion Capital. 
• The angle from which this picture has been taken, minus the inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, has been adopted as the National Emblem of India showing the Horse on the left and the Bull on the right of the Ashoka Chakra in the circular base on which the four Indian lions are seated back to back. On the far side, there is an Elephant and a Lion. 
• The wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base has been placed in the centre of the National Flag of India. 

3. Fact

• The Lion Capital of Asoka adorns the second stamp produced in independent India and was the first stamp meant for domestic use.
• There is a similar intact Ashoka pillar in Thailand with a similar four lion capital intact and crowned with Ashoka Chakra/Dharmachakra.

4. Artistic History

• Currently seven animal sculptures from Ashoka pillars survive.
• These form "the first important group of Indian stone sculpture", though it is thought they derive from an existing tradition of wooden columns topped by animal sculptures in copper, none of which have survived. 
• There has been much discussion of the extent of influence from Achaemenid Persia, where the column capitals supporting the roofs at Persepolis have similarities, and the "rather cold, hieratic style" of the Sarnath sculptures especially shows "obvious Achaemenid and Sargonid influence".
• Very similar four, lion sculptures are on the capitals of the two columns supporting the south Torana of the Ashokan or Satavahana enclosure wall around the Great Stupa at Sanchi. 
• Like other Ashoka pillars, the one at Sarnath was probably erected to commemorate a visit by the emperor.