| Metadata | |
|---|---|
| Object ID | OB00004a |
| Title | Gaya Plate of Samudragupta (seal) |
| Subtitle | |
| Inscription(s) | |
| Child Object | |
| Parent Object | |
| Related Objects | OB00004 OB00004b |
| Responsibility | |
| Author | J. F. Fleet |
| Metadata recorded by | Michael WILLIS |
| Authority for metadata | Gaur, A. (1975). Indian Charters on Copper Plates in the Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books. London: British Museum Publications. |
| Metadata improved by | Dániel Balogh |
| Authoriy for improved | |
| Description | |
| Material | Metal / copper |
| Object Type | Seal |
| Dimensions: | |
| Width | 7.3 |
| Height | 8.6 |
| Depth | not recorded |
| Weight | not recorded |
| Details | An oval seal about 8.6 cm high by 7.3 cm wide, soldered to the left edge of the plate. It shows in relief Garuḍa represented as a bird with outstretched wings, standing to the front. The seal is rotated 90° counterclockwise with respect to the inscription, i.e. Garuḍa's feet point toward the plate. The seal legend is below the effigy. The characters and the material of the seal both seem different than those of the plate, and the seal is probably a genuine one from Samudragupta's time. |
| History | |
| Created: | |
| Date | ?325-399 |
| Place | |
| Other ancient history | At some point, this original Gupta seal was attached to a medieval forgery of a Gupta copper plate. |
| Found: | |
| Date | 19th century |
| Place | Gayā |
| Other modern history | The object entered the British Museum under the number 1894,0729.59 and was transferred to the BL collections in 1973. |
| Latest: | |
| Date | 2019 |
| Place | British Library |
| Authority | Gaur, A. (1975). Indian Charters on Copper Plates in the Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books. London, British Museum Publications. |
| Details | See OB00004 for object history. |
| Notes | |