Editing Lakshmi (section)

==Archaeology==
[[File: MET DP253395.jpg|thumb|Greek-influenced statue of Gaja Lakshmi, holding lotus and cornucopia, flanked by two elephants and two lions. From Kashmir, 6th century CE.]]
A representation of the goddess as Gaja Lakshmi or Lakshmi flanked by two elephants spraying her with water, is one of the most frequently found in archaeological sites.<ref name=usingh/><ref name=ashav/> An ancient sculpture of Gaja Lakshmi (from Sonkh site at [[Mathura]]) dates to the pre-[[Kushan Empire]] era.<ref name="usingh">Singh, Upinder. 2009. ''A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century''. {{ISBN|978-81-317-1120-0}}, Pearson Education. p. 438</ref> Atranjikhera site in modern [[Uttar Pradesh]] has yielded [[terracotta]] plaque with images of Lakshmi dating to the 2nd century BCE. Other archaeological sites with ancient Lakshmi terracotta figurines from the 3rd century BCE include Vaisali, Sravasti, Kausambi, Campa, and Candraketugadh.<ref name="ashav">Vishnu, Asha. 1993. ''Material life of northern India: Based on an archaeological study, 3rd century B.C. to 1st century BCE''. {{ISBN|978-81-7099-410-7}}. pp. 194–95.</ref>

The goddess Lakshmi is frequently found in ancient coins of various Hindu kingdoms from Afghanistan to India. Gaja Lakshmi has been found on coins of [[Scythians#Archaeology|Scytho-Parthian]] kings [[Azes II]] and [[Azilises]]; she also appears on [[Shunga Empire]] king Jyesthamitra era coins, both dating to 1st millennium BCE. Coins from 1st through 4th century CE found in various locations in India such as Ayodhya, Mathura, Ujjain, Sanchi, Bodh Gaya, Kanauj, all feature Lakshmi.<ref>Upinder Singh (2009), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, {{ISBN|978-81-317-1120-0}}, Pearson Education, pages 438, 480 for image</ref> Similarly, ancient Greco-Indian gems and seals with images of Lakshmi have been found, estimated to be from 1st-millennium BCE.<ref>Duffield Osborne (1914), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/497307 A Graeco-Indian Engraved Gem] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201070905/http://www.jstor.org/stable/497307 |date=1 February 2016 }}, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 18, No. 1, pages 32–34</ref>

A 1400-year-old rare granite sculpture of Lakshmi has been recovered at the Waghama village along [[Jehlum]] in [[Anantnag]] district of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090413/j&k.htm#20 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Jammu & Kashmir |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2012-11-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102180808/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090413/j%26k.htm#20 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The [[Pompeii Lakshmi]], a statuette supposedly thought to be of Lakshmi found in Pompeii, Italy, dates to before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com/pompeiiinpictures/R1/1%2008%2005.htm |title=Casa della Statuetta Indiana or House of the Indian Statuette|publisher=Pompeii in Pictures |access-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323044310/http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com/pompeiiinpictures/R1/1%2008%2005.htm |archive-date=23 March 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>