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Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond

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Michelle Shaw
Michelle Shaw

Ancient Greeks established settlements and influence in Central Asia and beyond from around 200 BCE. They built cities like Bactra with massive walls and exchanged ideas, technologies, and goods with the Chinese, including nickel coinage, silk, and medicine traveling along the Silk Road. Greek soldiers also served as mercenaries in South Asia, where their armor was described in poems. King Menander was an early supporter of Buddhism, and Greek architectural styles appeared in monasteries. Traces of Greek names and influence extended as far as Myanmar, Yunnan province in China, and possibly Easter Island, demonstrating the wide reach of ancient Greek explorers and colonies in Asia.

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Ancient Greeks in Central Asia and Beyond
GREEK – CHINA exchanges in ancient times From the Greeks of Central Asia ~ 200 BCE to the Chinese ------------------Æ wall building, statue building, meander symbol in art, etc From the Chinese to the Greeks of Central Asia Å------------------------- nickel in coinage, silk, medicine(?)
• Routes of contact : • • The “ilk Road a hes o th a d south around the Taklimakan desert • Transportation facilitated by phryctorias (stations with accomodation/food) built by the ancient Greeks
Examples of Phryctorias along those routes
Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond
Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond
Greek soldier painting in the museum at Urumqi on the Silk Road
Earlier expedition of Dionysos - as reported by Apollonius, Strabo, Pausanias • 2. India --Æ Myanmar ----Æ Yunnan (Ionia) --- -Æ Apo Io ia o Iaponia fu thest Io ia i Greek) or Japan (The Ainu are probable Ionians), also • to Pacific Islands (Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia) – Ionians are excellent sailors after fou di g Io ia o the west oast of Asia Minor
Examples of city walls in Central Asia: Bactra
Google Map image of the massive Bactra walls
Google Map image of an unknown fortified city, south of Bactra
Termez (Demetrias) walls
Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond
Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond
Nisa, Turkmenistan
Margiane (Merv), Uzbek.
Takhti – Sangin, Tajik. (on Oxus River)
Uzundara Fortress, Uzbek. (after Nigora Dvurechenskaya)
While Greeks ruled in central Asia • The esta lished the thousa d ities of Ba t a : a common phrase during Hellenistic times • 70 cities in Ferghana alone • Samarkand : acropolis north of city (Kleitos Episode) • Triodos: Alexandria – of – Caucasus, west of river, Kapisa (Kapisini or Kafiristan) which is east of the river. One double city on both sides of the river
Marine expeditions • G eek a i e ’s a ual of the oasts of I dia : Periplous of the Erythraean Red “ea • Eudoxus of Cyzicus with help of Ptolemy of Egypt organized expedition to India and brought precious stones, aromatics, spices. Eudoxus also sailed from Pillars of Hercules around Africa, did not return
• “t a ge e p essio s: he failed like the elephants of Porus • Epig a : do ’t hu t, do ’t fish, do ’t kill • Lots of monuments at Xanthus, Lycia re: Ale a de ’s E peditio • Sagala (Amritsa) : capital Euthimedeia
• Aristotle found the inhabitants of cold Europe full of spirit, but lacking intelligence and skill. The Orientals intelligent and inventive, but so spiritless as to be always slaves, but the Greek both high-spirited and intelligent
On a stone monument, Ai Khanum • Α Ω Ο Ο Ο • Ω Α • Ο Α Ο • Ο Ο • Ω Α Ο • As a child you should learn good manners • As an adult you should be fair • As an elder you should give good advice • Do ’t e sad a out death
Greek soldiers as mercenaries • Greek mercenaries (women) worked as bodyguards in Tamils and Madurai • Greek soldiers worked as mercenaries in other parts of India, such as South India in Tamil – they were described in local poems and admired for their armor
Buddhism • King Menander (Milinda in the Indian tradition) first supporter of Buddhism • Statue of Buddha based on image of Apollo • Monasteries at Tarim Basin resemble those of Christians • 137 BC: large delegation of monks from Alexandria -on – Causasus under a Greek teacher to a stupa inaugaration in Sri Lanka • In a Buddhist stupa, the Greek principle of entasis (giving a slightly convex curve to parts of building instead of flat)
• In Thailand, the Menander legend as the miraculous creator of the famous Emerald Buddha of Bangkok, Thailand • King Strato: is also a Buddhist saint in Thailand
Indo-Greek & Bactrian Kings & Queens • Altogethe 6 ki gs a d Quee do ’t i lude Kalliopi she did ’t ule alo e Alpha eti all : • • Α αθο ια, Α αθο η´ς Α ας Α ια ι ας Α ι αχος Α ο ο ω ος Α ο ωφα ης Α χ βιος Α ι ω ος η η ιος (2) ιο ο ος (2) ιο η ης ιο σιος α ος α ι ης (2) θ η ος (2) ιο ης αιος οσ α ος ιας α ος ι ιας α α ω ο αος α ω ο ος φος οφι ος οι ος (2) Φι ο ος
• α ι ης celebrated his victory against η η ιος A’ who was a paig i g i I dia by issuing a pure gold coin of 20 staters – the most luxurious coin a Greek ever made in antiquity • Α ας, last king of Paropamisadae struck la gest silver coin (decadrachm) ever minted by a Greek state, 30 BC
• Euthydemus : first to issue Ni coins • The sons of Demetrios II : Agathocles and Pantaleon, the only ones who issued Ni-Cu coins. From the efforts of Demetrios who brought the nickel from the Yunnan province • Ni – Cu allo pai ti g is fou d i Yu a province, China • Both Agathocles and Pantaleon had coins by the excellent artist of Euthydemus picturing Zeus and Hecate
• Strato I had a long reign, at the end associated with Strato II • Antimahos Theos: first to issue square coins, like the Indians. His characteristic hat is called kausia • Agathoclea: first woman to rule in any Hellenistic Kingdom (Cleopatra was later) • Menandros : his coins are found as far as Wales
• Demetrios took his second son Demetrios II and his general Menandros occupied Taxila (Nea Hellas), Peshawar and Pushkalavriti (Charsadda) : a Greek capital with acropolis at junction of Swat with Kabul rivers
Impressions of early Chinese travelers • all k owi g Yavanas Io ia s): doctors, engineers • Chinese travelers were impressed that the cities had walls around them • Great Wall of China: Chinese adopted Ale a de s’s method of fortifying their frontiers against nomadic warriors • Chang – K’ie ’s Report around 128 BC. He opened China to western world for trade
• A Chinese report after the conquest called Ba t ia Ta - hia , a e this ea s Yavanas • His description: many bazaars, walled cities, shrewd traders, agriculturists, over 1 million people had no king, all cities had their own chiefs, most had beards, they place high value on women, always ask their advice
After the Age of the Greeks • 4th cent. AD: Apollonius of Tyana toured Taxila • I 6 O a ’s ge e al o ue ed Badakshan, its king Bahram Shah was a descendant of Alexander. After Greeks, coins were imitations of Greek coins of Heliocles • 7th cent. AD: Greek alphabet still in use • Kashmir poet, Ksemendra, 11th cent. AD says: Yavanas a ake a d fl ai pla es’
• In Mahabharata, the Yavanas a e all k owi g . The G eek do to s i Taxila and Bactria were so skillful that could give sight to the blind (prob. a real operation for cataract) Asklipiades recognized that a man carried to burial was in a state of catalepsy
• Greek words that entered Sanscrit: pen, ink, book • Greek words that entered Indian language: camel (strange because Indians had their own word already), α , α α ος, χα ι ος, σ ι α, military camp ( α ος), army ( σ α ος ), general (σ α η ος )
• Charsadda : prominent Greek center, city on a grid pattern • Taxila: city on a grid pattern. Shrine of Double- headed eagle (Symbol of Byzantium later)
• The Greek Aristocracy, great Bactrian artists (coins) vanished, probably escaped to the hills, high valleys. Ruling families claiming descent from Alexander today are in Karategin, Darvaz, Rashan, Shingnan, Wakhan, Pokhpu, the celebrated Mirs of Badakshan, that Marco Polo said their horses descended from Bucephalus. In 3rd cent. AD a famous silver patera , ow i a E glish useu
Dionysos expedition or other unknown expeditions by the ancient Greeks • Left a trail of Greek-like names across India, Myanmar into Yunnan province, China
In India • Vathi Gandaki (= deep trench or river), name of tributary of Ganges
Greek names assembled from various sources
In Myanmar • City of Mycene(?) today called Myitkyina, a mining center along the main road to China
In Yunnan (old capital called Yunnan) Yunnan sounds like Ionia • A out illio eth i i o ities with Greek-like characteristics and wine-making tradition
Yunnan
Easter Island • Statues are called moais, name probably from the G eek omoioma = liki g , e ause the statues resemble their elders who died
References • Bernard, Paul, An ancient Greek city in Central Asia, Scientific American 246, (1982) 148 – 159 • Sarianidis, Victor 1980 Archeology The treasure of the Golden Mount, 31 • Issigonis, M. The Ancient Greeks in Afghanistan, Ecclectica, 2003 • Josephson, Nors Sigurd, An archaic Greek civilization on Easter Island, 2003 • Potitsa Grigorakou, The Hellenistic civilization in Asia in light of archeological excavations and other numerous publications
• Irene Panayiotidou, The Yavanas (Greeks) in the Indian Tradition

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Ancient Greeks In Central Asia And Beyond

  • 1. Ancient Greeks in Central Asia and Beyond
  • 2. GREEK – CHINA exchanges in ancient times From the Greeks of Central Asia ~ 200 BCE to the Chinese ------------------Æ wall building, statue building, meander symbol in art, etc From the Chinese to the Greeks of Central Asia Å------------------------- nickel in coinage, silk, medicine(?)
  • 3. • Routes of contact : • • The “ilk Road a hes o th a d south around the Taklimakan desert • Transportation facilitated by phryctorias (stations with accomodation/food) built by the ancient Greeks
  • 4. Examples of Phryctorias along those routes
  • 7. Greek soldier painting in the museum at Urumqi on the Silk Road
  • 8. Earlier expedition of Dionysos - as reported by Apollonius, Strabo, Pausanias • 2. India --Æ Myanmar ----Æ Yunnan (Ionia) --- -Æ Apo Io ia o Iaponia fu thest Io ia i Greek) or Japan (The Ainu are probable Ionians), also • to Pacific Islands (Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia) – Ionians are excellent sailors after fou di g Io ia o the west oast of Asia Minor
  • 9. Examples of city walls in Central Asia: Bactra
  • 10. Google Map image of the massive Bactra walls
  • 11. Google Map image of an unknown fortified city, south of Bactra
  • 17. Takhti – Sangin, Tajik. (on Oxus River)
  • 18. Uzundara Fortress, Uzbek. (after Nigora Dvurechenskaya)
  • 19. While Greeks ruled in central Asia • The esta lished the thousa d ities of Ba t a : a common phrase during Hellenistic times • 70 cities in Ferghana alone • Samarkand : acropolis north of city (Kleitos Episode) • Triodos: Alexandria – of – Caucasus, west of river, Kapisa (Kapisini or Kafiristan) which is east of the river. One double city on both sides of the river
  • 20. Marine expeditions • G eek a i e ’s a ual of the oasts of I dia : Periplous of the Erythraean Red “ea • Eudoxus of Cyzicus with help of Ptolemy of Egypt organized expedition to India and brought precious stones, aromatics, spices. Eudoxus also sailed from Pillars of Hercules around Africa, did not return
  • 21. • “t a ge e p essio s: he failed like the elephants of Porus • Epig a : do ’t hu t, do ’t fish, do ’t kill • Lots of monuments at Xanthus, Lycia re: Ale a de ’s E peditio • Sagala (Amritsa) : capital Euthimedeia
  • 22. • Aristotle found the inhabitants of cold Europe full of spirit, but lacking intelligence and skill. The Orientals intelligent and inventive, but so spiritless as to be always slaves, but the Greek both high-spirited and intelligent
  • 23. On a stone monument, Ai Khanum • Α Ω Ο Ο Ο • Ω Α • Ο Α Ο • Ο Ο • Ω Α Ο • As a child you should learn good manners • As an adult you should be fair • As an elder you should give good advice • Do ’t e sad a out death
  • 24. Greek soldiers as mercenaries • Greek mercenaries (women) worked as bodyguards in Tamils and Madurai • Greek soldiers worked as mercenaries in other parts of India, such as South India in Tamil – they were described in local poems and admired for their armor
  • 25. Buddhism • King Menander (Milinda in the Indian tradition) first supporter of Buddhism • Statue of Buddha based on image of Apollo • Monasteries at Tarim Basin resemble those of Christians • 137 BC: large delegation of monks from Alexandria -on – Causasus under a Greek teacher to a stupa inaugaration in Sri Lanka • In a Buddhist stupa, the Greek principle of entasis (giving a slightly convex curve to parts of building instead of flat)
  • 26. • In Thailand, the Menander legend as the miraculous creator of the famous Emerald Buddha of Bangkok, Thailand • King Strato: is also a Buddhist saint in Thailand
  • 27. Indo-Greek & Bactrian Kings & Queens • Altogethe 6 ki gs a d Quee do ’t i lude Kalliopi she did ’t ule alo e Alpha eti all : • • Α αθο ια, Α αθο η´ς Α ας Α ια ι ας Α ι αχος Α ο ο ω ος Α ο ωφα ης Α χ βιος Α ι ω ος η η ιος (2) ιο ο ος (2) ιο η ης ιο σιος α ος α ι ης (2) θ η ος (2) ιο ης αιος οσ α ος ιας α ος ι ιας α α ω ο αος α ω ο ος φος οφι ος οι ος (2) Φι ο ος
  • 28. • α ι ης celebrated his victory against η η ιος A’ who was a paig i g i I dia by issuing a pure gold coin of 20 staters – the most luxurious coin a Greek ever made in antiquity • Α ας, last king of Paropamisadae struck la gest silver coin (decadrachm) ever minted by a Greek state, 30 BC
  • 29. • Euthydemus : first to issue Ni coins • The sons of Demetrios II : Agathocles and Pantaleon, the only ones who issued Ni-Cu coins. From the efforts of Demetrios who brought the nickel from the Yunnan province • Ni – Cu allo pai ti g is fou d i Yu a province, China • Both Agathocles and Pantaleon had coins by the excellent artist of Euthydemus picturing Zeus and Hecate
  • 30. • Strato I had a long reign, at the end associated with Strato II • Antimahos Theos: first to issue square coins, like the Indians. His characteristic hat is called kausia • Agathoclea: first woman to rule in any Hellenistic Kingdom (Cleopatra was later) • Menandros : his coins are found as far as Wales
  • 31. • Demetrios took his second son Demetrios II and his general Menandros occupied Taxila (Nea Hellas), Peshawar and Pushkalavriti (Charsadda) : a Greek capital with acropolis at junction of Swat with Kabul rivers
  • 32. Impressions of early Chinese travelers • all k owi g Yavanas Io ia s): doctors, engineers • Chinese travelers were impressed that the cities had walls around them • Great Wall of China: Chinese adopted Ale a de s’s method of fortifying their frontiers against nomadic warriors • Chang – K’ie ’s Report around 128 BC. He opened China to western world for trade
  • 33. • A Chinese report after the conquest called Ba t ia Ta - hia , a e this ea s Yavanas • His description: many bazaars, walled cities, shrewd traders, agriculturists, over 1 million people had no king, all cities had their own chiefs, most had beards, they place high value on women, always ask their advice
  • 34. After the Age of the Greeks • 4th cent. AD: Apollonius of Tyana toured Taxila • I 6 O a ’s ge e al o ue ed Badakshan, its king Bahram Shah was a descendant of Alexander. After Greeks, coins were imitations of Greek coins of Heliocles • 7th cent. AD: Greek alphabet still in use • Kashmir poet, Ksemendra, 11th cent. AD says: Yavanas a ake a d fl ai pla es’
  • 35. • In Mahabharata, the Yavanas a e all k owi g . The G eek do to s i Taxila and Bactria were so skillful that could give sight to the blind (prob. a real operation for cataract) Asklipiades recognized that a man carried to burial was in a state of catalepsy
  • 36. • Greek words that entered Sanscrit: pen, ink, book • Greek words that entered Indian language: camel (strange because Indians had their own word already), α , α α ος, χα ι ος, σ ι α, military camp ( α ος), army ( σ α ος ), general (σ α η ος )
  • 37. • Charsadda : prominent Greek center, city on a grid pattern • Taxila: city on a grid pattern. Shrine of Double- headed eagle (Symbol of Byzantium later)
  • 38. • The Greek Aristocracy, great Bactrian artists (coins) vanished, probably escaped to the hills, high valleys. Ruling families claiming descent from Alexander today are in Karategin, Darvaz, Rashan, Shingnan, Wakhan, Pokhpu, the celebrated Mirs of Badakshan, that Marco Polo said their horses descended from Bucephalus. In 3rd cent. AD a famous silver patera , ow i a E glish useu
  • 39. Dionysos expedition or other unknown expeditions by the ancient Greeks • Left a trail of Greek-like names across India, Myanmar into Yunnan province, China
  • 40. In India • Vathi Gandaki (= deep trench or river), name of tributary of Ganges
  • 41. Greek names assembled from various sources
  • 42. In Myanmar • City of Mycene(?) today called Myitkyina, a mining center along the main road to China
  • 43. In Yunnan (old capital called Yunnan) Yunnan sounds like Ionia • A out illio eth i i o ities with Greek-like characteristics and wine-making tradition
  • 45. Easter Island • Statues are called moais, name probably from the G eek omoioma = liki g , e ause the statues resemble their elders who died
  • 46. References • Bernard, Paul, An ancient Greek city in Central Asia, Scientific American 246, (1982) 148 – 159 • Sarianidis, Victor 1980 Archeology The treasure of the Golden Mount, 31 • Issigonis, M. The Ancient Greeks in Afghanistan, Ecclectica, 2003 • Josephson, Nors Sigurd, An archaic Greek civilization on Easter Island, 2003 • Potitsa Grigorakou, The Hellenistic civilization in Asia in light of archeological excavations and other numerous publications
  • 47. • Irene Panayiotidou, The Yavanas (Greeks) in the Indian Tradition