When the Indo-Greek rulers governed both Bactria and northwest India between the reigns of Demetrius and Eucratides , the historical Eucratideia (historical Alexandria on the Oxus River, later renamed Arukratiya or Eucratidia) was one of the key cities and a mystery of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. The city is thought to have been founded by Alexander the Great around 327 BC. The city is situated in northern Takhar Province of . The Khyber Pass, which provides access to South Asia by road, is on the lower of two important sets of pathways (lowland and highland) that connect Western Asia to that sub-continent. One of the main centres of Hellenism in the East was Eucratideia, which mixed Greek and Persian architectural elements. The spectacular Royal Palace was constructed in the Achaemenid style, but there are also several Hellenic temples and a sizable amphitheatre that show a strong Greek influence. Eucratideia served as the capital of the Bactrian kingdom for about two centuries before it was destroyed by nomadic invaders around 145 BC, at the time of the death of Eukratides the Great. The following remarkable findings were uncovered during archaeological digs of the city :: -- 1. The surrounding ramparts of the city, which were two kilometres long. 2. A classical theatre with a seating capacity of 4,000–6,000 people, 84 metres in diameter, 35 rows of seats, and three loges for the rulers of the city. 3. A sizable palace with Greco-Bactrian construction that strangely evokes the formal imperial architecture of Persia. 4. One of the biggest gymnasiums from antiquity, measuring 100 by 100 metres. On one of the pillars, there was a Greek dedication to Hermes and Herakles. Two guys with Greek names made the dedication (Triballos & Strato, son of Strato). 5. The numerous temples within the city. Zeus appeared to be sitting in a massive statue within the main temple of the city, but it was actually a Zoroastrian replica (rather than open columnar structure of the Greek temple, it was firmly closed.) [Information and Image Credit : Ai-Khanoum , Wikipedia] [Image 1: Plaque from the sanctuary showing a votive offering to the Greek goddess Cybele and a Bactrian Sun God. 2. A center of Hellenistic Bactria, Eucratideia (Ai-Khanoum) was located on a triangular peninsula at the confluence of two rivers.] [Image Availed Under Public Domain Work (Please Relate to Individual Image URL for More Usage Property)] [Source-Image-Source-URLs : 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AiKhanoumPlateSharp.jpg 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BactriaMap.jpg ]
Old World
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