PESHAWAR: United States Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson here Wednesday visited historical Peshawar Museum and was much impressed by ancient Gandhara artifacts and Budha sculptures that are put on display in the museum.
The US ambassador went around various galleries of the Museum and evinced great interest in Buddhist art and Ghandara master pieces including Buddhist stone sculptures.
Later, talking to reporters, Richard Olson said he was impressed with quality collections of Gandhara and Budhists arts pieces that were put on display in the museum.
He said it was his first visit to the Peshawar museum and was impressed immensely with ancient Ghandara and Buddhist art work displayed here.
Richard Olson was accompanied by Peshawar base US Consul General, Robart Reed and Public Affairs Officer, Tommy Paltchikov and other officials.
Earlier, upon arrival, the US diplomat was received by Khyber Pakthunkhwa Tourism, Sports and Archeology Secretary Syed Jamaluddin Shah and Director Peshawar Museum, Shah Nazar Khan and others senior officials of Khyber Pakt hunkhwa Govt.
On this occasion, the US diplomat was informed about historic perspective and background of Ghandara civilization, Gandhara Greco-Buddhist art, Buddhist stone sculptures, stucco sculptures and other art work.
Peshawar Museum has the largest collection of Gandhara Greco-Buddhist art in the world and about 4247 Gandahara pieces including Buddhist stone sculptures and panels, stucco sculptures, terracotta figurines, relic caskets and toiletry objects are available.
The main hall of the museum was built in 1906-07 in memory of Queen Victoria at a cost of Rs60,000 while Rs45,000 was donated by the public and the rest by the Indian Director General of Archaeology.
The Museum was originally called Victoria Memorial Hall and the first Muslim head of the museum was Khan Dilawar Khan Yousafzai.
The museum currently has about 14,101 items which range from Gandhara sculptures, coins, manuscripts, weapons, dresses, jewellery, Kalash effigies, paintings of the Mughal era and later periods, household objects and local and Persian handicrafts.
Comments
Comments are closed.