Overview

The discoveries at the site of Ai Khanum, on the northern frontier of Afghanistan, reveals it to be one of the best colonies of the hellenistic Far East. The treasury of the royal palace was stocked with various precious goods, like imported olive oil, incense, coins or gems, and above all, diverse objects relating to Indian art. Among the most significant discoveries are the fragments of a throne inlaid with agate and rock crystal incrustations, probably produced in the region of Taxila, and identical to another unique piece discovered in Rome. On the other hand, a shell plaque decorated with glass incrustations seems to illustrate the well-known Indian myth of the encounter of Shakuntla with Dushyanta. The discovery of these objects helps throw new light on ancient ties between Central Asia and India. A series of economic inscriptions, which not only enable a precise dating but also show evidence of payments in Indian coins, permits to restitute the historical context of the findings, more precisely the reign of Eucratides, the Greek king who reigned in Ai Khanum during this period and was also the last Greek king to govern Eastern Bactria.

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Claude Rapin studied classical archaeology at the University of Lausanne. Under the direction of Prof. Paul Bernard, he participated in the dig of Ai Khanum, a major hellenistic site in Afghanistan, and published a monograph on the palatial treasury of this town.

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