The garland-bearer design was extremely popular in the Mediterranean.^[1] It first appeared at the end of the Hellenistic period, and its popularity expanded during the Roman period.^[1] The design reached a peak of popularity in the 2nd century CE, adorning sarcophagi made in Asia Minor to be sold in Rome.^[1]

Greek garland bearer designs tend to be continuous, and the garlands are furnished with leaves and stems.^[1] Roman garland bearer designs are segmented and often use flowers and fruits for decoration.^[1]

Garland bearers were also particularly associated to the cult of Dyonisos.^[2]

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  Garland bearers on a Roman sarcophagus, 130-150 CE.
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  Greco-Roman garland bearers, Rockefeller Museum
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  Garland bearers on a sarcophagus, in Aphrodisias.
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  Roman marble sarcophagus with segmented garlands decorated with flowers and fruits, 200-225 CE, Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey).^[3]

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  Capital with a figure showing features of Buddha and Heracles (100-200 CE), Old Termez Archaeological Museum.

The erotes or putti holding garlands is one of the most common motif of the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.^[1] According to John Boardman, they find their origin in Hellenistic designs, rather than Roman ones.^[1] The garlands had an important role in decorating Buddhist stupas.^[4]

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  Yakshas holding Garlands, Peshawar Museum.
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  Garland and amorini, Gandhara, c. 2nd-3rd century CE
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  Garland bearers and Romaka Jataka (25-50 CE), Mathura Museum
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  Yaksha holding a garland, Amaravati stupa.
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  Erotes, garland and the Buddha on the Kanishka casket
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  Limestone coping fragment, Ter, Maharashtra.
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  Garland bearers, Amaravati stupa, India. Chennai Government Museum

The garland bearer design can be seen in Buddhist frescoes in Miran, China, from the 3rd century CE.

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  Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran
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  Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran