Sculpture art in South Asia has ancient roots dating back thousands of years, reflecting the region's rich cultural and religious diversity. One of the earliest known traditions is the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600-1900 BCE), which produced small terracotta figurines depicting human and animal forms, possibly representing deities or everyday life. The subsequent Maurya Empire (c. 321-185 BCE) marked a significant period with the creation of monumental stone sculptures, such as the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and symbolic significance. Over the centuries, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions further enriched South Asian sculpture art, producing iconic images of gods and goddesses, bodhisattvas, and spiritual leaders intricately carved from stone, metal, and other materials. These sculptures not only served religious purposes but also adorned temples, stupas, and royal courts, illustrating a fusion of artistic expression, cultural symbolism, and devotion that continues to resonate in South Asian art today.