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A comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia, this award-winning publication is the most authoritative single-volume treatment of the region's early history. Newly translated from... more
A comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia, this award-winning publication is the most authoritative single-volume treatment of the region's early history. Newly translated from Russian, the book investigates the civilisations and states which emerged in Central Asia from the Bronze Age up to the 5th century AD. It examines their differing religions and cultures and explores their changing relationships over time.
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This is the English translation of the chapter of the same name in the book 'Кампыртепа-Александрия Оксианская: город-крепость на берегу Окса в эллинистическое и постэллинистическое время / Kampyrtepa-Alexandria Oxiana: the city and... more
This is the English translation of the chapter of the same name in the book 'Кампыртепа-Александрия Оксианская: город-крепость на берегу Окса в эллинистическое и постэллинистическое время / Kampyrtepa-Alexandria Oxiana: the city and fortress on the Oxus in the Hellenistic and post-Hellenistic epochs' (MTE, Vol. 10, 2017) pp. 74-81.
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The illustrated volume “Kushan Kingdom: dynasties, state, people, language, writing systems, beliefs” is an enlarged edition (complemented with Uzbek and English translation) of E.V. Rtveladze’s monograph originally issued in Russian in... more
The illustrated volume “Kushan Kingdom: dynasties, state, people, language, writing systems, beliefs” is an enlarged edition (complemented with Uzbek and English translation) of E.V. Rtveladze’s monograph originally issued in Russian in 2019. The book is dedicated to the history and culture of one of the greatest states of the ancient world – the Kushan kingdom – the main emphasis being placed
on the political and cultural history of the Kushan domains in North Bactria which covered the south of modern Uzbekistan (Surkhan
Darya region) and saw a concentration of outstanding Kushan monuments such as Airtam, Dalverzintepa, Kampyrtepa, Old Termez
(Karatepa, Fayaztepa), and Khalchayan.
on the political and cultural history of the Kushan domains in North Bactria which covered the south of modern Uzbekistan (Surkhan
Darya region) and saw a concentration of outstanding Kushan monuments such as Airtam, Dalverzintepa, Kampyrtepa, Old Termez
(Karatepa, Fayaztepa), and Khalchayan.
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Research Interests: Inscriptions and Bactrian
Данная книга посвящена одному из самых интересных, но недостаточно изученных пери-одов истории Бактрии: эпохе бронзы-ран-него железа вплоть до падения Ахеменидско-го господства под ударами армии Александра Македонского. Работа основана на... more
Данная книга посвящена одному из самых интересных, но недостаточно изученных пери-одов истории Бактрии: эпохе бронзы-ран-него железа вплоть до падения Ахеменидско-го господства под ударами армии Александра Македонского. Работа основана на результа-тах исследований автором археологических памятников Северной Бактрии (самыми вы-дающимися среди них являются памятники Бандыханского оазиса и Талашкантепа), а так-же на великих открытиях и достижениях со-ветских археологов и историков. Хотя книга носит научно-популярный харак-тер, в ней затронуты и в какой-то мере раз-решены некоторые кардинальные проблемы Бактрии этой эпохи, в частности происхож-дение цивилизации Маргуш, которая, по мне-нию автора, была создана дравидами, и пре-бывание ассирийцев и мидийцев в Бактрии, зафиксированное в ряде археологических свидетельств, реабилитирующих в какой-то степени сведения древнегреческого автора Ктесия Книдского.
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VOLUME TEN of the Proceedings of the Tocharistan Expedition is dedicated to the history of the ancient city-site on the river Oxus – Kampyrtepa – in the Hellenistic period, from the conquests of Alexander the Great, in the late 4th... more
VOLUME TEN of the Proceedings of the Tocharistan Expedition is dedicated to the history of the ancient city-site on the river Oxus – Kampyrtepa – in the Hellenistic period, from the conquests
of Alexander the Great, in the late 4th century BC, through to the last Graeco-Bactrian king of the city, in about the late 2nd or early 1st century BC. It sums up the results of the long-term archaeological excavations carried out at the site to date and gives an account of the site layout,
fortifications, stratigraphic evidence and collected material, all relating to the period under review.
In particular, three building periods have been identified for Hellenistic Kampyrtepa. During the first period, dating from the end of the 4th century BC up to 235/230 BC, a strongly fortified phrourion was built – – with towers, gates, bastions, and other defences. At the same time a
large sanctuary was established inside the fortress. Based on written sources and archaeological records, the author claims that the first Graeco-Macedonian ever built in Transoxiana by Alexander the Great was at the site of Kampyrtepa.
Besides this, the book provides a survey of data which throws light upon the localization of Alexandria Oxiana, in particular the correlation of the archaeological assemblages from Ai Khanum and Kampyrtepa. Also described are the chief characteristics of the Post-Hellenistic period in
the history of the site, and discussions on a range of questions regarding the presence of Sakas and Parthians in the Oxus valley and in Kampyrtepa.
of Alexander the Great, in the late 4th century BC, through to the last Graeco-Bactrian king of the city, in about the late 2nd or early 1st century BC. It sums up the results of the long-term archaeological excavations carried out at the site to date and gives an account of the site layout,
fortifications, stratigraphic evidence and collected material, all relating to the period under review.
In particular, three building periods have been identified for Hellenistic Kampyrtepa. During the first period, dating from the end of the 4th century BC up to 235/230 BC, a strongly fortified phrourion was built – – with towers, gates, bastions, and other defences. At the same time a
large sanctuary was established inside the fortress. Based on written sources and archaeological records, the author claims that the first Graeco-Macedonian ever built in Transoxiana by Alexander the Great was at the site of Kampyrtepa.
Besides this, the book provides a survey of data which throws light upon the localization of Alexandria Oxiana, in particular the correlation of the archaeological assemblages from Ai Khanum and Kampyrtepa. Also described are the chief characteristics of the Post-Hellenistic period in
the history of the site, and discussions on a range of questions regarding the presence of Sakas and Parthians in the Oxus valley and in Kampyrtepa.
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Based on a comparative analysis of the planning structure of the two archaeological sites - Old Nisa and Kampyrtepa, which have no analogues anywhere else in Central Asia, the author considers the possibility that the two settlements... more
Based on a comparative analysis of the planning structure of the two archaeological sites - Old Nisa and Kampyrtepa, which have no analogues anywhere else in Central Asia, the author considers the possibility that the two settlements belong to the same possession.
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Etude du site greco-bactrien de Kampyre Tepe-Pandokheion : description, occupation du site et historique.
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Au dela des questions de typologie, de caracterisation culturelle et d'evolution stylistique, l'auteur s'interesse plus particulierement a l'usage et a la signification de la ceramique (vases cultuels, significations... more
Au dela des questions de typologie, de caracterisation culturelle et d'evolution stylistique, l'auteur s'interesse plus particulierement a l'usage et a la signification de la ceramique (vases cultuels, significations symboliques de la ceramique, rites funeraires) lorsqu'elle etait employee comme materiel cultuel et rituel en Bactriane kouchane
Research Interests: Humanities and Art
Etude des structures fortifiees et residentielles de la forteresse kouchane de Kampir-tepe, des zones non fortifiees (bâtiments funeraires et religieux), des inscriptions grecques et bactriennes et des monnaies seleucides,... more
Etude des structures fortifiees et residentielles de la forteresse kouchane de Kampir-tepe, des zones non fortifiees (bâtiments funeraires et religieux), des inscriptions grecques et bactriennes et des monnaies seleucides, greco-bactriennes, parthes et kouchanes mises au jour sur ce site
Research Interests: Humanities and Art
This article deals with interpretation of the information by Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD) about Bactrian cities on the Oxus (Amu-Darya) River. When comparing these data with geographic, toponimical, archaeological and numismatic... more
This article deals with interpretation of the information by Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD) about Bactrian cities on the Oxus (Amu-Darya) River. When comparing these data with geographic, toponimical, archaeological and numismatic evidence, the author arrives to the conclusion that the intelligence presented by Ptolemy is generally trustworthy while the enumerated cities can be equalled with the known archaeological sites in the middle reaches of the Amu-Darya.
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Analysis of a hitherto unpublished pale-green nephrite plate, now in Uzbekistan, with depictions on both sides allows its origins to be localised in North-Eastern Bactria at the juncture of the Yuehchi and Early Kushan periods (1st c. BC).
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Colloque international Rencontres interculturelles dans l’Orient hellénisé, 28-29 et 30 Septembre 2009 à l’UNESCO, Paris),
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Since the campaign of Alexander the Great in Transoxiana (329‒ 327 B.C., the rulers of the Hellenistic states of Bactria felt constant threat from nomadic tribes from the north. In this regard, they launched the construction of the... more
Since the campaign of Alexander the Great in Transoxiana (329‒
327 B.C., the rulers of the Hellenistic states of Bactria felt constant threat
from nomadic tribes from the north. In this regard, they launched the
construction of the largest fortification system in the region at that time,
starting with work of primary importance ‒ fortified line on the northern
borders ‒ the Great Bactrian Wall.
327 B.C., the rulers of the Hellenistic states of Bactria felt constant threat
from nomadic tribes from the north. In this regard, they launched the
construction of the largest fortification system in the region at that time,
starting with work of primary importance ‒ fortified line on the northern
borders ‒ the Great Bactrian Wall.
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This paper is dedicated to the correlation of the archaeological assemblages from two Hellenistic sites on the river Oxus — Ai Khanum and Kampyrtepa, and to a range of questions of their cultural interaction and dating. Based on... more
This paper is dedicated to the correlation of the archaeological
assemblages from two Hellenistic sites on the river Oxus — Ai Khanum
and Kampyrtepa, and to a range of questions of their cultural interaction
and dating. Based on archaeological and stratigraphic investigations at
Kampyrtepa the author concludes that the cultural layers of the first, the
most ancient period of Hellenistic Kampyrtepa, dating from the end of the 4th century BC up to 235/230 BC, are lacking in Ai Khanum. This period for Kampyrtepa is characterized by the use of rectangular sun-baked-bricks in building construction, whereas at Ai Khanum all structures were built exclusively of square mud-bricks. Judging by the very same archaeological and stratigraphic evidence, square bricks came into use in Kampyrtepa only in the second building period of the Hellenistic epoch, which is dated by coins to the time of Euthydemus (235/230 — 200 BC) or, perhaps, a little earlier. Consequently, there are grounds for maintaining that the city-stronghold Kampyrtepa, possibly Alexandria on the Oxus, was constructed
earlier than Ai Khanum.
assemblages from two Hellenistic sites on the river Oxus — Ai Khanum
and Kampyrtepa, and to a range of questions of their cultural interaction
and dating. Based on archaeological and stratigraphic investigations at
Kampyrtepa the author concludes that the cultural layers of the first, the
most ancient period of Hellenistic Kampyrtepa, dating from the end of the 4th century BC up to 235/230 BC, are lacking in Ai Khanum. This period for Kampyrtepa is characterized by the use of rectangular sun-baked-bricks in building construction, whereas at Ai Khanum all structures were built exclusively of square mud-bricks. Judging by the very same archaeological and stratigraphic evidence, square bricks came into use in Kampyrtepa only in the second building period of the Hellenistic epoch, which is dated by coins to the time of Euthydemus (235/230 — 200 BC) or, perhaps, a little earlier. Consequently, there are grounds for maintaining that the city-stronghold Kampyrtepa, possibly Alexandria on the Oxus, was constructed
earlier than Ai Khanum.
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in Russian, English, Japanese
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At the end of the episode in Curtius Rufus detailing the capture of the Rock of Sisimithres there is an intriguing event which deserves special attention (Curt. 8.2.33–40). This event in Alexander’s campaign in Central Asia, marred by... more
At the end of the episode in Curtius Rufus detailing the capture of the Rock of Sisimithres there is an intriguing event which deserves special attention (Curt. 8.2.33–40). This event in Alexander’s campaign in Central Asia, marred by great difficulties and fierce fighting, has never been the subject of a special study, although it was this march that led to the tragic death of two Macedonian heroes – Philippus, the brother of Alexander’s personal bodyguard Lysimachus, and Erigyius, one of the
“illustrious generals” of the Macedonian army. They died during a campaign in Basand (Baisun). In the first period of its existence (late 4th–early 3rd century BC) Kurganzol was a tholos intended for
the burial with splendor and honor of Philippus and Erigyius.
“illustrious generals” of the Macedonian army. They died during a campaign in Basand (Baisun). In the first period of its existence (late 4th–early 3rd century BC) Kurganzol was a tholos intended for
the burial with splendor and honor of Philippus and Erigyius.
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Great fortification line on the northern border of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom
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Fortifications on the northern border of the Kushan state
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The paper presents some little-known or completely unknown inscriptions in Bactrian script and in Bactrian language. They are discovered on a series of archaeological monuments located in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan. These... more
The paper presents some little-known or completely unknown inscriptions in Bactrian script and in Bactrian language. They are discovered on a series of archaeological monuments located in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan. These inscriptions are of great importance because they preserve some words otherwise
unattested in Bactrian lexicon.
unattested in Bactrian lexicon.
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The article provides a new reading and interpretation of the monumental Bactrian inscription written on the base of a sculpture block found in 1979 at the site of Airtam, located 18 km west of Termez, on the right bank of the Amudarya... more
The article provides a new reading and interpretation of the monumental Bactrian inscription written on the base of a sculpture block found in 1979 at the site of Airtam, located 18 km west of Termez, on the right bank of the Amudarya river. Contrary to the conventional and long held
scholarly opinion, which has regarded the cult complex at Airtam as Buddhist, it is now clear from our reading of the inscription that its character was rather different – that is, it was a dynastic temple devoted to the cult of the Kushan king Huvishka. The author’s view is substantiated by the absence of any terms designating Buddhist cult constructions in the wording of the inscription, referring, in particular, to the building of the Airtam temple. On the contrary, all the terms used
in the inscription are of Old Iranian and Avestan origin.
The text gives the date of the inscription as Year 4 of Huvishka’s reign, and contains a number of previously unknown words and phrases in the Bactrian vocabulary, the exact meaning of which is not yet very clear.
scholarly opinion, which has regarded the cult complex at Airtam as Buddhist, it is now clear from our reading of the inscription that its character was rather different – that is, it was a dynastic temple devoted to the cult of the Kushan king Huvishka. The author’s view is substantiated by the absence of any terms designating Buddhist cult constructions in the wording of the inscription, referring, in particular, to the building of the Airtam temple. On the contrary, all the terms used
in the inscription are of Old Iranian and Avestan origin.
The text gives the date of the inscription as Year 4 of Huvishka’s reign, and contains a number of previously unknown words and phrases in the Bactrian vocabulary, the exact meaning of which is not yet very clear.