Gandhara
10th cent BC - 11th cent AD
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Buddhist
Gandhara
The
center of Gandhara was located mainly in the valley of Peshawar, the
Potohar plateau (Taxila) and on the Kabul River. Its main cities were
Purushapura (modern Peshawar) and Takshashila (modern Taxila). The
Kingdom of Gandhara lasted from early 1st millennium BC to the 11th
century AD. It attained its height from the 1st century to the 5th
century under the Buddhist Kushan Kings. After it was conquered by
Mahmud of Ghazni in 1021 AD, the name Gandhara disappeared. During
the Muslim period the area was administered from Lahore or from
Kabul. During Mughal times the area was part of Kabul province.
The
region shows an influx of southern Central Asian culture in the
Bronze Age with the Gandhara grave culture showing a continuum
between the early neolithic culture with close ties and relations to
the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. This culture survived
till 600 BC. Its evidence has been discovered in the hilly regions of
the
Swat
and Dir, and even at Taxila (Malayo, Melanesian, Wabanaki, Nahuatl
Cultures)
For further reading: Wikipedia
Buddhist
Gandhara
180
BC- 11th cent AD
The
Kingdoms of Gandhara (Greco-Bactrians, Sakas, and Indo-Parthians)
lasted from 180 BC to the 11th century. Ghandara attained its height
during the 1st - 5th cent AD under the Buddhist Kushan emperors.
After that it was conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1021 AD, the area
became Moslem and the name Gandhara disappeared.
Gandhara is
noted for the distinctive Gandhara style of Buddhist art, a
consequence of a unique merger of Hellenistic, Syrian, Persian, and
Indian artistic traditions. This development started in the Parthian
Period (50 BC – 75 AD). The visual appearance of the
Greco-Gandharan sculptures is most intriguing. Three examples follow
(Text and images from Wikipedia)
chiton, Gandharan Greco-Buddhist sculpture from Hadda , 1st cent AD
The Buddha with Herakles as Vajrapani, Gandharan Greco-Buddhist relief, 2nd-3rd cent AD/P>
The
Buddha's Paranirvana, 2nd-3rd cent
Photos Wikipedia
For
a detailed time table see the History
of Ghandara and Afghanistan,
5th
Millenium BC - 2001 AD
The
Swat
3000 BC- 800
AD
The
very
recently (Oct. 2007) mutilated rock-carved Buddha near Janabad,
Swat, 7th-8th cent. AD
Photo
flickr.com
The
Swat comprises several valleys which empty into the Swat river. The
area has been inhabited since prehistoric times (3rd millenia BC).
Around the 3rd cent AD it became an important Buddhist center
(Udayana). Some 1400 stupas and monasteries were spread throughout
the valley. The Chinese travelers Faxian (337 - 422 AD) and Xuanzang
(602 - 664 AD) have left us detailed descriptions of these times.
The Tibetan-Buddhist
Tantrayana
(9th-11th
cent AD) probably
originated here and spread from the Swat to Tibet. Padmasambhava is
said to have been born in the Swat, the "Guru from Udayana".
In the 11th cent AD Islam was introduced by Mahmud of Ghazni who
invaded the area. The Buddhist monuments went into decay and have
only recently been excavated. The Swat became part of Pakistan during
the Indian division.
For
Information on the Harappan culture 3200-2600 BC see Wikipedia,
Early Harappan
The
Swat Grave Culture 1600 - 500 BC at Aligrama is described in
Wikipedia,
Gandhara Grave Culture
A
cultural history of the Swat is found at Svatvalley.com
Archeological
maps by the Italian excavators of the Swat are found as a pdf at
isiao.it
Udegram,
Swat
10th cent BC - 14th
cent AD
Udegram is located 8 kilometres from Saidu Sharif. Aurel Stein identified this with Ora, a city where Alexander fought one of his battles. Italians excavated this site in the
The "Bazaar"
excavation
site of the lower city (Arrian’s Ora) which Alexander stormed
in 326 BC. In a second level area further downhill the monumental
remains of an entire vast inhabited district were brought to light
(Gullini called it a “bazaar” so that, as Tucci wrote,
“Alexander’s presence may gently blow all around us”)
and was dated between the end of the 4th century BC and the 4th
century AD."
Photo and text quoted from Centroscavitorino.it
Gogdara
Rock Carvings
Swat
12th
cent BC - 400 AD
Gogdara's
prehistoric rock carvings
Photo centrovitorino.it
Based on sherds found, the settlement was inhabited continously between the 12th cent. BC and the Parthian period.
Taxila,
6th
cent BC - 5th cent AD
The
Stupa
at Taxila-Sirkap, decorated with Hindu, Buddhist, and Greek
tsculptures
Photo and text from Wikipedia
Taxila
is an archaeological site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the
Gandharan city of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important
Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist centre of learning from the 6th BC century
to the 5th cent AD. Taxila lay at the crossroads of three major trade
routes: the royal highway from Pa?aliputra; the north-western route
through Bactria, Kapisha, and Puskalavati (Peshawar); and the route
from Kashmir and Central Asia, via Srinigar, Mansehra, and the
Haripur valley across the Khunjerab pass to the Silk Road.
In 326
BC Alexander the Great received the submission of Ambhi, king of
Taxila.
During the reign of Ashoka
(3nd cent AD), Taxila
became an influential centre of Buddhist learning.
Assorted Greek
satraps held sway in Taxila until in 460–470 AD the Ephthalites
sweept
over Gandhara and the
Punjab, resulting
in the destruction
of Buddhist monasteries and stupas at Taxila. The
invasion of Islam in the 8th
cent
AD did the rest.
For an excellent, detailed article on the art and history of Taxila see Jona Lendering, Livius.com
Begram
2nd cent AD
Begram, was founded as Alexandria Caucasia by Alexander the Great. It later became the summer residence of the Kushan emperors in the 2nd cent AD
Ivory carvings from a
trasure found in a merchant's house in Begram
2nd
cent AD
Large plaque with engraved decoration, with a girl playing a flute and a woman at the foot of a tree.
River Deity standing on a makara.
A woman and child and a pair of ladies in a doorway.
Within walking distance of the US military airfield at the site of the ancient Alexandria Caucasia a treasure of some 200 sophisticated Greco-Gandharan ivory objects was found. Most likely the contents of a warehouse of an exporter of ivories carved in the area. The panels and sculptures depict scenes of ordinary and royal court life.
These
items and several more from the Kabul Treasure were recenyly
exhibuted at the Musee Guimet in Paris
The
Guimet's
catalogue
asks the question:
"Should we view this as a Kushan
collection from Augustus’s era (1st century AD) or even of
Kaniska's (2nd century.), or should we assign a much earlier date,
back to the Indo-Parthian period, when the sovereign Gondopharnes
governed Taxila, or indeed the Indo-Greek epoch, the time of the very
last Greek king in the south of the Hindukush, Hermaios who reigned
over Kabul? Whether this Treasure was hidden through fear of
invasions, was a merchant’s stock or was just a simple
collection, even today the collection refuses to give up its
secrets."
Text
and Photographs from Dorothy
Lobel King's blogpage
Original
photographs
© Thierry Ollivier / Musée Guimet, Paris.
Tilia
Tepe
100 BC -
100 AD
In
1978 the Soviet-Greek archeologist Viktor
Sarianidi discovered a citadel at Tillia
Tepe near Shebergan dating back to the 1st cent BC and six tombs
displaying unprecedented wealth. The tombs held five women and one
man. The bodies were dressed in clothes sewn with gold and encrusted
with turquoise, garnet and lapis lazuli.
The
Tilia Tepe Necropolis, Greco-Bactrian-Buddhist gold jewelery
find extraordinary
was housed at the
Kabul Museum. They miraculously survived the Taliban destruction in a
bank safe:
This Greco-Baktrian gold pendant with turquoise, garnet, lapis lazuli, carnelians, and pearls depicts a lady taming two dragons, 1st cent AD
Belt
with depictions of Dionysus
riding
a lion.
1st cent AD
Clasp
with erotes on dolphins.
From Dorothy
Lobel King's blogpage,
Original
photographs
© Thierry Ollivier / Musée Guimet, Paris.
Takht-i-Bahai
1 st - 6th cent AD
Takht-i-Bahai
was the center of Greco-Buddhism in Gandhara. Large ruins of a
Buddhist monastery and an academy are found
in a mountain valley. Many of the celebrated Greco-Gandharan Buddhist
sculptures in Western museums come from here. A few may
still be in the Peshawar
Museum. The monastery is relatively well preserved.
Two
reliefs from Takht-i-Bahai:
Ghandara Buddha Avalokiteshvara
The
miraculous birth of the Buddha
Photos from Le
Coq, "Buddhistische Spätantike"
Shaikhan
Dheri
early
2nd cent AD
The
Bactrian Greeks built a new city across the river Jinde from
Pushkalavati. This city was occupied by Parthian, Sakas and Kushans.
In 2nd AD, the river changed its course and the city was relocated to
the modern village of Rajar.
The city was partly excavated by
Ahmad Hasan Dani in 1960’s. There are still many mounds at Mir
Ziarat, at Rajar and Shahr-i-Napursan which are unexcavated.
Text
Wikipedia
Hariti
This area is where Hariti found a new home. Some say she came from Beiruth with the Greeks, other consider her Iranian, in either case she was a terrible ogress. In Ghandara she was converted to Buddhism, laying off her child-eating habit. She beomes the protectress of children and pregnant women. She appears everywhere in Gandhara. Later (8th-9th century) she wandered with Buddhism as far as Japan and Java
Greco-Buddhist
sculpture: Hariti with her children in the "House of Naradakha",
Shaikhan
Dehri
Photo
Jennifer
Gowan, U of Oregon
Hariti
with her husband Panchala. A true Hellenistic image.
The Greeks
identified her with the Greek goddess Tyche for which reason she
holds a cornucopia.
Photo Wikipedia
Sahri
Bahlol
2nd - 3rd
cent ADI
"Yusufzai" Hariti fom the upper Peshawar Valley
The
complete figure.
Photo Wikipedia
Greco-Buddhist
sculpture of a standing, four-armed Hariti
with a
trident from Sahri-Bahlol, 2nd-3rd
cent AD.
Saidu
Sharif, Swat
200 - 300 AD
Sculptural elements from a Buddhist Stupa 200-300 AD.
The Buddha and local disciples
Riders
Photos archart.us
Bamiyan
4th
cent AD
The
Bamiyan Buddha before its destruction in the 1980s.
Photo
photobucket
The large Buddha of Bamiyan, newly notorious because of its destruction by Talibans in the 1980s, go back to the Sassanian period (4th cent AD). During the following two centuries this Iranian-Gandharan Buddha style was carried through Gansu (Bingling Si, Maiji Shan, Zhangye ) deep into China (Lomgmen, Yungang, Leshan), where such gigantic sculptures were much appreciated at the time.
Shah-i-Dheri,
Kanishka Stupa
2nd - 6th cent AD
The
stupa was a monumental building erected by the Kushan emperor
Kanishka in 127 AD.
Three Chinese travelers, Faxian in 399-412
AD, Sung Yun in 518 AD, and Xuanzang in 630 AD described it as the
largest stupa in India
Today there are only the foundations left.
A
British team excavating at the site in 1908-09 found a reliquary
casket ("Kanishka's Casket")
with bone-splinters
supposed to be the Buddha Gautama's.
Photo Wikipedia
Gumbat,
Swat
2nd
cent AD
Gumbat
Stupa
and
monastery.
Photo
panoramio
Aurel Stein in the Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India first mentioned the site of Gumbatuna in 1930. Berger and Wright who carried out some small-scale excavation (Berger et al. 1941). Professor G. Tucci followed it in 1955-56
Buddhist
sculpture: Ardokhsho-Hariti with donors and attendants from Gumbat,
2nd cent AD.
Photo Jennifer
Gowan, U of Oregon
Butkara,
Swat
2nd cent AD
The Butkara Stupa is one of the most important Buddhist shrines of Swat . It may have been originally built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, but it is now dated slightly later to the 2nd century BC. The stupa was enlarged on five occasions during the following centuries, every time by building over, and encapsulating, the previous structure.
Photo from heritage.gov.pk
The site was excavated by an Italian mission (IsIAO: Istuto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente),led by archaeologist Pierfrancesco Callieri from 1955, to clarify the various steps of the construction and enlargements. The mission established that the stupa was "monumentalized" by the addition of Hellenistic architectural elements during the 2nd century BC, suggesting a direct involvement of the Indo-Greek rulers of northwestern India during that period. An Indo-Corinthian capital representing a Buddhist devotee within foliage was found which had a reliquary and coins of Azes II's time buried at its base, securely dating the capital to earlier than 20 BC.
Pushkalavati-Peukelaotis
6th cent BC to 2nd cent AD
Pushkalavati, Peukelaotis in Greek, also known as Bala Hissar was the capital of the kingdom of Gandhara from the 6th century BC to 2nd century AD. For over a century, the monumental mound of Bala Hisar north of Charsadda has been regarded as the pre-eminent archaeological site in the Peshawar Valley, and it is potentially one of the most important archaeological sites in all of South Asia. It is still unexcavated.
The
rock of Bala Hissar
Photo arch.cam.ac.uk
Mingora,
Swat
1st cent AD
Many Buddhist remains and carvings have been discovered near Mingora in the Jambill River Valley. At Panr, a stupa and monastery dated to the 1st century AD has been excavated.
Mingora
(also spelled Mangora or Mingaora) is the largest city in the
Swat.
photo icmag.com
Topdara
Swat
5th cent AD
The
Buddhist stupa at Topdara, 5th cent AD
Photo freenet.de
Nimogram
Swat
2nd - 6th
cent AD
Well preserved Budhist monastery with three stupas in wild and beautiful country. Many Budhist items have been excavated from the site and are displayed in various museums.
Nimogram
Stupas, 3rd cent AD?.
Photo from Panoramio
Fondukistan
7th cent AD
Greco-Buddhist sculptures from Fondukistan 7th cent AD
The Kabul Museum housed a number of unusually beautiful Greco-Buddhist sculptures and Serindia-influenced frescoes from Fondukistan, a few are at the Musee Guimet in Paris.
This
fragile, most remarkable Buddha used to be among
the Kabul Museum treasure (painted clay,
early 7th century). - Has it survived? -
Does anyone know its present location?
Photo from : Madelleine
Hallade, "Indien, Gandhara, Begegnung zwischen Orient and
Okzident", Pawlak Verlag, Herrsching, 1975 (in German)
