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Today's Afghanistan, an opportunity to remind us of the Greek-Bactrian kingdoms of the Successors of Alexander the Great, which flourished there in the Hellenistic era ..
Dear friends
On the occasion of the recent events in Afghanistan, it was published in the Daily (29-8-21) interview of a foreign writer Mr. Presfield by Mr. Ioannidis, about Afghanistan. A reference is made to Alexander the Great and it is projected in capital letters "as the blonde from the West", as the "passer-by" from there, as if he were a foreigner who did not land. But this does not apply to Alexander!
So perhaps it is an opportunity to recall some elements of our true history in the East and especially in Central Asia, with Afghanistan at its core (ancient Bactrian). A brief review of this page of our History, during the Hellenistic era, would help us to remember it, now that Afghanistan is in the news ..
The huge area of the empire of Alexander the Great from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, was inherited by his Successors creating (around 300 BC) the Hellenistic kingdoms of the Middle East and later Central Asia, which lasted 3 centuries, but left strong Greek cultural elements in the East for many centuries after. and cultural exchanges from East to West.
Greek coins gained international use (like the dollar today), the Greek language became lingua franca, like English today, and thus became the universal language and channel of Greek culture to the peoples of Asia. Later it became the famous Silk Road that reached as far as W. China. Greek pockets were recently found (Nia city, Sino-Japanese excavations). It is a pity that the media conceals the enormous cultural work of Alexander and the Macedonians in Asia, with the cultural cosmogony that took place.
That is, with the spread and universality of Greek culture achieved by the Hellenistic kingdoms in the Middle East (Ptolemaic, Seleucid), in Central Asia (Greek-Bactrian and Indo-Greek) and the strong Greek influence on the arts and cultures of the East. Influences that continued to flourish for centuries after the departure of the Greeks, so without any imposition. An example is the art of the Kusans who conquered the Greek-Bactrian kingdoms of Central Asia and adopted elements of Greek culture, Greek Alphabet, Greek art and Greek Mythology, as evidenced by the "Golden Bounties of Tilia Tepe" (Soviet excavation by V. Sarig).
This art led to the famous Gandara art, which French experts call "Greek-Buddhist", due to the great Greek influence, 2nd century BC-6th century. AD, (French excavations, D. Sshlumberger, Z.Tarzi, Guimet Museum, Paris). Recently, the Buddhas of Bamyan, in Afghanistan, were blown up by the Taliban in 2001 and then shocked the world, internationally. who have been excavating in the East since 1922 and have vast experience, important archaeological findings and valid findings for the Hellenization of the East, with the adoption of the inhabitants themselves.
As the book of foreign Archaeologists "Arts et civilizations de l'Orient hellénisé" i.e. Arts and cultures in the Hellenized East ” , Publisher Picard, Paris 2016, Edited by Prof.P. Leriche; Director of French excavations in Syria and Uzbekistan. He writes: "Greek culture spread to the East with its own power." Also the book "L'Hellénisme" "Hellenism" Ed. Edisud 2003, Prof. Giorgio Guillini, Director of Italian Excavations in Mesopotamia, Seleucia in the Tigris, etc .. Writes: "Greek culture spread to the East as a forest fire" Also "Ai Khanoum en Afghnistan", Ed. Boccard 2001, Prof. Paul Bernard, Director of French Excavations in Afghanistan.
Sums up: "At Greek city of Ai Hanoum in Afghanistan, the Delphic orders to the Hero of the city, the High School dedicated to Hercules, the royal library with texts by Aristotle, etc. prove that the inhabitants, Greeks and natives, lived by the Greek philosophical values and the Greek way of life. Many locals adopted Greek names, elements of Greek culture and the Greek way of life, what foreign archaeologists call "Hellenization".
Ai Hanum is probably Alexandria of Exxos, Herat and Kandahar, mentioned in the news, daily in the last days, is Alexandria of Aria and Arachosia, higher in Tajikistan is Alexandria the Last and in the center the famous Alexandria of the Caucasus, the capital of a period of the Indo-Greek kingdom, which made all the Archaeologists of the West dream of one day excavating it !!. , gives a true picture of the Hellenistic cities, with the Greek institutions, the big theater, Acropolis, temples, Library, the statues of Greek gods that adorned the city, etc. It proves the greatness that fascinated the natives and justifies the influence of Greek culture on the people of Asia.
Greek culture and language were never imposed, the peoples maintained their own and adopted the Greek, as long as it fascinated them or served them socially (urban elite) or commercially in international trade. Let us also not forget that its peoples They valued Alexander and the Greek culture of Asia, because from subjects of authoritarian kings he made them citizens of Greek cities with Greek institutions and Equality of citizens. The Academician and Prof. Ed. Rtveladze, the most important Hellenist and Director of excavations in Uzbekistan, writes: "Greek anthropocentric culture developed in Uzbekistan for many centuries, left deep traces in the material, spiritual and artistic life of Central Asia and continued to exist long after the fall of Greek political power."
Greece-Uzbekistan, Common Cultural Traditions, Taskend, 2001. ”In Uzbekistan it was customary for the firstborn to bear the name Alexander " Masterpiece Coins of the Greek kings (Eucratides, Menander the Righteous, mentioned in the Holy Indian Scriptures, etc.), with the Greek gods on the back (treasures of Mir Zakas, Studies of Prof. O: Bopearachchi), and the statues of the Greeks adorned Greek cities in the Greek kingdoms of Central Asia, copied, inspired or influenced local communities and arts, centuries after the departure of the Greeks. Kabul Museum, the golden treasures of Tilia Tepe, the Greek-shaped Buddhas, the Greek finds from Ai Hanum (statues, papyri, inscriptions) (the archeological site has already been destroyed by the previous war), hoping that they will not be completely destroyed today, in Syria.
The important for Greece archeological findings of all foreign excavations in the Greek cities of Asia became the subject of many large Exhibitions in capitals around the world, with intense interest of visitors, but not in Greece. The course "Hellenism of the East" is taught at foreign universities , but not in Greece! Catherine ordered a book on the education of Russian princes, entitled "Education" (Hermitage Museum) with the Philosophy of Aristotle and the life of Alexander the Great, considered by all kings the ideal Hegemon, worthy Stratilatis and prudent king..Many kings and nobles bear the name Alexander.
Paintings and tapestries with images from Alexander's life adorn all the palaces of the West. Syria also printed a coin with Athena Kyrristi in the past, and both peoples thus paid tribute to Greek culture and boast that it once enriched their own. Medieval Iranian poetry proves and the whole universe recognizes that Alexander is the the only mercenary adopted by the peoples to whom he reigned and who appropriated him.
The Iranian poets Nizami and Fertnusi (12th -13th centuries) in their epic poems (ShahName, IskandarName) appropriate Alexander and legitimize him as Emperor of the country, the same is done by Pseudocallisthenes in Egypt with "Fylla". This book, which portrays Alexander, has been translated into many languages, read more than any other book for many centuries in East and West, and inspired the legends of many peoples of the East, who adore (at least the oldest) or still admire Alexander. today.
There is a cenotaph in the Pamirs but also in Indonesia, where it never went, but the legends went with the Arabs who created a kingdom in Sumatra, taking the name Iskander (Alexander) to be deified and established on their throne (Discoveries of the French .Chamber-Loire). In the East he is still worshiped as the "dikeratos", king of the East and the West, in the legends of many peoples and in the Qur'an he is mentioned as a prophet of justice (Surat 18). In Afghanistan, the Pashtuns, the most populous tribe, identify themselves as descendants of Alexander and still dance their traditional dance, a type of Pyrrhic, called Athena (Athena).
Marco Polo writes in his book that In Afghanistan, the country of a thousand cities, all kings are considered descendants of Alexander the Great ”. The peoples of Hountza and Kalas are still boasted of being descendants of the Macedonians and retaining Greek elements of religion and traditions.
In the countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, men still wear a special hat which is the ancient Macedonian burn. Buddhist temples in Central Asia and India are filled with relief Dionysian scenes, with Hercules and Dionysus often leading the way. The Buddha's companion, Vazrapani, appears everywhere next to him, with characteristics of Heracles, and Alexander also appears in these reliefs. And let us not forget that the Buddha has a human form, in the beginning he even had an "Apollonian" face, he wears a tunic and a robe with light folds, thanks to the Greek influence on the art of Gandara (borders Afghanistan and Pakistan).
In the East, therefore, two worlds and two cultures apparently "married", with osmosis and productive mutual enrichment. Greece "kissed" the East and shared with it a noble culture. Alexander and the Macedonians left there strong traces of Greek culture and some are honored by UNESCO. In the Middle East they were preserved for many centuries, until the recent known catastrophes.
In Central Asia and Afghanistan in particular, some memories are still preserved, for how much we still do not know. But it is worth remembering and keeping it in our historical memory for future generations… Alexander, associated with Greek culture, was not a "Passerby" in Asia !.
Dr. Potitsa Grigorakou
Researcher of the History of the Hellenistic culture of the East.
People's University of Athens-EtFtL
Researcher of the History of the Hellenistic culture of the East.
People's University of Athens-EtFtL
