Gandhara in Barrigot is a melting pot of Indian and Greek cultures

Gandhara in Barrigot is a melting pot of Indian and Greek cultures

Part of the Gandhara Empire a former center of Buddhist prosperity the structure pictured consists of a ceremonial platform and the remains of a cylindrical stupa built over an older Buddhist temple Archaeologists from Italy and Pakistan discovered the ruins believed to be one of the oldest Buddhist temples ever found in the region dating back to the mid-2nd century BC. The aerial photograph shows an archaeological site of a Buddhist temple in Pakistan. This site is an excavation site of an ancient Buddhist temple over 2,000 years old, located in the Barrigot area of ​​the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan Taxila was an important center of learning and trade notable for its Greek-Buddhist Buddhist art

Aerial view of ancient Buddhist temple discovered in the city of Barikot, in the Swat region of northern Pakistan. 

Photo Credit: The Italian Archeological Mission in Pakistan ISMEO/CA' Università Ca'Foscari

Ruling by several important empires such as the Achaemenid Empire Alexander the Great's army the Mauryan Empire the Indo-Greek Empire and flourishing most during the Gushan period it is the origin of some of the world's earliest Buddha images. These images are uniquely influenced by Greek art giving the Buddha images Western features such as curly hair and folded robes located on the Silk Road connecting India Central Asia and the West it was a vital cultural exchange point

Gandhara schist relief depicting a Bacchanalian procession Gandhara Kingdom

Archives have uncovered Buddhist art forms that developed in the area now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st and 7th centuries BC. Takshashila was an important center of learning and trade notable for its Greco-Buddhist Buddhist art influenced by Hellenistic Greek art from approximately 323–31 BC. Greek art blended with local cultures in the East such as Egypt and Bactria giving rise to new art styles. After the conquests of Alexander the Great Greek art emphasized realism and chaotic movement contrasting with the perfection and stillness that spread and integrated into Eastern cultures including Egypt and Persia