I've been reading conflicting reports as to whether Buddhism has idols in it or not.

The teachings of Buddha himself seem to directly contradict attachment to anything physical, certainly to forms meant to represent the divine. The entire theme is a rejection of the transient—sort of discovery of oneness through negation of all else.

I read somewhere that they actually never had it, rather it was something which was introduced with the Greek invasion under Alexander of Macedonia, and later that Buddhists saw these formidable statues of the Greeks and began to imitate them.

I was wondering if anyone had more knowledge than I on this question.

Thanks!