page_title: Ai-Khanoum
section_title: Artefacts
hierarchical_section_title: Ai-Khanoum / Greek city in Bactria / Artefacts
caption_attribution_description: Plate depicting Cybele, a votive sacrifice and the sun God. Ai Khanoum, 3rd century BCE (National Museum of Afghanistan, photographed when it was part of a temporary exhibition at Musée Guimet, Paris, in 2006). "One of the oldest antiquities found at Aï Khanum, this spectacular disk depicts Cybele, the goddess of nature, and Nike, the personification of Victory, on a chariot drawn by two lions through a mountainous landscape. It is a remarkable example of hybrid Greek and Oriental imagery that typified the arts of Hellenized Asia. Ancient Near Eastern features include: the parasol—a royal symbol—here held by a priest; the stepped altar; the shape of the chariot; the scalloped pattern indicating mountainous terrain; and the moon crescent and the star. The cult of Cybele originated in Anatolia but had long been adopted by the Greeks. Also borrowed from the Greek tradition are the representation of the winged Nike, the bust of the sun god Helios, and the naturalistic rendering of the drapery and the lions. The overall composition of the scene, however, lacking any indication of perspective, is more typical of Near Eastern art. Ceremonial Plaque depicting Cybele on her chariot, early 3rd century B.C., Afghanistan, Aï Khanum, Gilded silver; D. 1/25–2/25 in. x Diam. 9 7/8 in. (1–2 mm x 25 cm), National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul, 04.42.7" (metmuseum.org) [1] Français&#160;: Plaque de Cybèle. Afghanistan, Aï Khanoum, Sanctuaire du temple à niches indentées. IIIe siècle av.n.è. Argent doré, D: 25 cm. Musée National d'Afghanistan, Kaboul. Visible lors de l'exposition temporaire: Afghanistan&#160;: Les trésors retrouvés&#160;: Collections du Musée National de Kaboul, Pierre Cambon, dir. Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet, 2006-2007, éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, Paris, 300 pages. ISBN 978-2-7118-5218-5. N° 23, page 156
context_page_description: Ai-Khanoum, possibly the historical Alexandria on the Oxus, possibly later named Eucratidia, Εὐκρατίδεια was one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom from circa 280 BCE, and of the Indo-Greek kings when they ruled both in Bactria and northwestern India, from the time of Demetrius I to the time of Eucratides. Previous scholars have argued that Ai Khanoum was founded in the late 4th century BC, following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Recent analysis now strongly suggests that the city was founded c. 280 BC by the Seleucid emperor, Antiochus I Soter. The city is located in Takhar Province, northern Afghanistan, at the confluence of the Panj River and the Kokcha River, both tributaries of the Amu Darya, historically known as the Oxus, and at the doorstep of South Asia.
  Ai-Khanoum was one of the focal points of Hellenism in the East for nearly two centuries until its annihilation by nomadic invaders around 145 BCE about the time of the death of Eucratides I.
context_section_description: Numerous Greco-Bactrian coins were found, down to Eucratides, but none of them later. Ai-Khanoum also yielded unique Greco-Bactrian coins of Agathocles, consisting of six Indian-standard silver drachms depicting Hindu deities. These are the first known representations of Vedic deities on coins, and they display early Avatars of Vishnu: Balarama-Samkarshana and Vasudeva-Krishna, and are thought to correspond to the first Greco-Bactrian attempts at creating an Indian-standard coinage as they invaded northern India.
  Among other finds:
  A round medallion plate describing the goddess Cybele on a chariot, in front of a fire altar, and under a depiction of Helios
  A fully preserved bronze statue of Herakles
  Various golden serpentine arm jewellery and earrings
  Some Indian artefacts, found in the treasure room of the city, probably brought back by Eucratides from his campaigns
  A toilet tray representing a seated Aphrodite
  A mold representing a bearded and diademed middle-aged man
  Various artefacts of daily life are also clearly Hellenistic: sundials, ink wells, tableware. An almost life-sized dark green glass phallus with a small owl on the back side and other treasures are said to have been discovered at Ai-Khanoum, possibly along with a stone with an inscription, which was not recovered. The artefacts have now been returned to the Kabul Museum after several years in Switzerland by Paul Bucherer-Dietschi, Director of the Swiss Afghanistan Institute.
caption: Plate depicting Cybele pulled by lions, a votive sacrifice and the Sun God. Ai-Khanoum, 2nd century BC.
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