Loriyan Tangai

Loriyan Tangai is an archaeological site in the Gandhara area of Pakistan, consisting of many stupas and religious buildings where many Buddhist statues were discovered.

The stupas were excavated by Alexander Caddy in 1896, and the many statues of the site sent to the Indian Museum of Calcutta.

Buddha "of the year 318"
One of the statues of the Buddha from Loriyan Tangai has an inscription mentioning "the year 318". The era in question is not specified, but it is now thought, following the discovery of the Bajaur reliquary inscription, that it is about the Yavana era beginning in 174 BCE, and gives a date for the Buddha statue of about 143 CE.

The inscription at the base of the statue is:

This would make it one of the earliest known representations of the Buddha, after the Bimaran casket (1st century CE), and at about the same time as the Buddhist coins of Kanishka.

The two devotees on the right side of the pedestal are in Indo-Scythian suit (loose trousers, tunic, and hood). Their characteristic trousers appear clearly on close-up pictures. The statue is now in Indian Museum of Calcutta.

 File:BimaranCasket2.JPG|Bimaran casket (1st century CE) File:Kanishka Buddha.jpg|The Buddha (with "BODDO" in Greek script) on a coin of Kanishka (approx. 130 CE) File:Hashtnagar Buddha Year 384 original body only.jpg|Statue of the Buddha of Hashtnagar, inscribed of "the year 384", which is thought to be 209 CE. 

Another statue of Buddha, the Buddha of Hashtnagar, is inscribed from the year 384, which is thought to be 209 CE. Only the pedestal is preserved in the British Museum, the statue itself, with folds of clothing having more relief than those of the Loriyan Tangai Buddha, having disappeared.

Gallery
 File:Loriyan Tangai valley.jpg|Loriyan Tangai valley Loriyan Tangai Stupa after excavation.jpg|A Loriyan Tangai Stupa after excavation. File:Loriya Tangai Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.jpg|Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Loriya Tangai standing Buddha.jpg|A Loriyan Tangai Buddha from the same period as the Buddha dated "Year 318". File:Loriyan Tangai Kharoshthi inscription of the year 318.jpg|Dated inscription (318) of the Loriyan Tangai Buddha. 44. Submission of Naga king Apala-2nd century- Loriyan Tangai- Gandhara Gallery- Indian Museum- Kolkata.-5079-A23476a.jpg|Loriyan Tangai sculpture 51. Receiving of a bundle of grass from a grass cutter-2nd century CE- Loriyan Tangai-5123-A23266- Gandhara Gallery-Indian Museum-Kolkata.jpg|Loriyan Tangai sculpture 65.2. Chandra Kinnara Jataka-2nd century CE-Loriyan Tangai-5130-A2343a&b-Gandhara Gallery-Indian Museum-Kolkata.jpg|Loriyan Tangai sculpture Buddha in Meditation - Schist - ca 2nd Century CE - Gandhara - Loriyan Tangai - ACCN 4855 - Indian Museum - Kolkata 2016-03-06 1483.JPG|Loriyan Tangai sculpture Buddha Inside Palace - Schist - ca 2nd Century CE - Gandhara - Loriyan Tangai - ACCN 5090-A23485 - Indian Museum - Kolkata 2016-03-06 1542.JPG|Loriyan Tangai sculpture Great Departure - Schist - ca 2nd Century CE - Gandhara - Loriyan Tangai - ACCN 5043 - Indian Museum - Kolkata 2016-03-06 1480.JPG|Loriyan Tangai sculpture Indian Museum Sculpture - Bodhisattva Maitreya, Loriyan Tangai (9218175455).jpg|Loriyan Tangai sculpture File:Bust of a Bodhisattva, possibly Maitreya, Loriyan Tangai, 2nd-3rd century.jpg|Bust of a Bodhisattva, possibly Maitreya, Loriyan Tangai, 2nd-3rd century 