Final answer:
2) Ancient Greek depictions of their gods inspired the early sculptural depictions of the Buddha through the Greco-Buddhist style in the Gandhara region, demonstrating a syncretism of Hellenistic and Buddhist art forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influence of 2) Ancient Greek depictions of their gods on early sculptural depictions of the Buddha is apparent in the Gandhara style that emerged in the region that spans present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This style, often referred to as Greco-Buddhist, featured more naturalistic facial features, proportions, and drapery in the depictions of the Buddha, akin to those found in Greek sculpture such as in the classical toga.
This hybrid aesthetic is a result of the cultural syncretism that took place after the conquests of Alexander the Great, which brought these regions into close contact with the Hellenistic world, thereby significantly influencing the artistic conventions of the time.
The development of Buddhist art was facilitated by the Kushan Empire, as they sponsored and advanced the religion's artistic and architectural expressions.
This was a period during which Greek aesthetics, previously seen in sculptures of deities, became intertwined with Buddhist iconography, resulting in lifelike statues of Bodhisattvas and other Buddhist figures which mirrored the Greek sculptural style.
The famed 'Gandhara Buddha' statues are a prime example of this influence, displaying features and styles that are reminiscent of Hellenistic art.