Archaeological remains History of the Indo-Greek Kingdom

1 archaeological remains

1.1 urban remains
1.2 artifacts
1.3 stupas

archaeological remains
urban remains

the city of sirkap, today in northwestern pakistan near taxila, built according hippodamian grid-plan characteristic of greek cities, , hellenistic fortress of considerable proportions, 6,000 meter wall on circumference, of height of 10 meters. houses of indo-greek level best planned of 6 strata, , rubble masonry of walls built solid , compact . thought city built demetrius.

artifacts

main archaeological artifacts indo-greek strata @ ancient taxila. source: john marshall taxila, archaeological excavations .

several hellenistic artifacts have been found, in particular coins of indo-greek kings, stone palettes representing greek mythological scenes, , small statuettes. of them purely hellenistic, others indicate evolution of greco-bactrian styles found @ ai-khanoum towards more indianized styles. example, accessories such indian ankle bracelets can found on representations of greek mythological figures such artemis.

the excavations of greek levels @ sirkap limited , made in peripheral areas, out of respect more recent archeological strata (those of indo-scythian , indo-parthian levels) , remaining religious buildings, , due difficulty of excavating extensively depth of 6 meters. results, although interesting, partial , cannot considered exhaustive. beyond this, no extensive archaeological excavation of indo-greek city has ever been done.

quantities of hellenistic artifacts , ceramics can found throughout northern india. clay seals depicting greek deities, , depiction of indo-greek king thought demetrius found @ benares.

stupas

evolution of butkara stupa (swat) during indo-greek period.



stupa decorated acanthus leaves, level iii, sirkap, 1st century bce. diameter: 2.5 meters.

when indo-greeks settled in area of taxila, large buddhist structures present, such stupa of dharmarajika built ashoka in 3rd century bce. these structures reinforced in following centuries, building rings of smaller stupas , constructions around original ones. numerous coins of indo-greek king zoilos ii found under foundation of 1st-century bce rectangular chapel near dharmarajika stupa.

also, various buddhist structures, such butkara stupa in area of swat enlarged , decorated hellenistic architectural elements in 2nd century bce, during rule of menander. stupas round mounds when indo-greeks settled in india, possibly top decorations, added various structural , decorative elements, such reinforcement belts, niches, architectural decorations such plinthes, toruses , cavettos, plaster painted decorative scrolls. niches designed place statues or friezes, indication of buddhist descriptive art during time of indo-greeks. coins of menander found within these constructions dating them around 150 bce. end of indo-greek rule , during indo-scythian period (1st century bce), stupas highly decorated colonnated flights of stairs , hellenistic scrolls of acanthus leaves.