Gandhara literally means "perfume". It survived from the sixth century BC to the eleventh century AD. It attained its high point from the first century to the fifth century AD under Buddhist Kushan kings. After it was captured by Mahmud of Gazni in 1021 AD, the name Gandhara was changed and later the place was totally destroyed.
Map showing Gandhara.
Persian Achaemenid Gandhara (600 to 400 BC). In 518 BC, Darius led his army through the Khyber Pass and reached Sindh by 516 BC. Gandhara satrapy was established in 518 BC with its capital at Pushkalavati. Kharosthi alphabets were developed here and remained the national script of Gandhara till 200 AD. The Achaemenid kings ruled up to the time of Alexander. The coins circulated during this period included the bent bar coins and the circular Shatamana coins.
Shatamana (silver bent bar) Gandhara, 600 BC. Weight: 11.23 gm, length: 39 mm
Taxila copper/billon bent bars, 450 BC. Weight: 9.6 gm, length: 28 mm.
Silver one eighth Shatamana from Taxila, Gandhara Janapada 600 to 400 BC.
Punched marked coin minted in Kabul Valley 500-350 BC.
Head of Bodhisattva, (Art Institute of Chicago)
Figure of Buddha
Macedonian Gandhara (327 to 324 BC). In the winter of 327 BC, Alexander invited all chieftains of the satraps to submit to his authority. This was done after his successful capture of the Persian Empire. The ruler of Taxila, Ambhi, complied, but the other tribes in the former satraps of Gandhara rejected the offer. In fierce and quick battles Gandhara was captured and Alexander's forces combined with King Ambhi of Taxila crossed the Indus River in 326 BC to begin the Archosia (Punjab) campaign.
Map showing routes Alexander took for his conquests. 334 BC-323 BC.
Map of Alexander the Great's conquests
Maurya Empire (324 to 185 BC). By 316 BC, King Chandragupta of Magadha moved and conquered the Indus valley annexing Gandhara and naming Taxila a provincial capital of his empire. He was succeeded by his son Bindusara, who was succeeded by his son Ashoka. Ashoka spread Buddhism and one of the stupas where he buried several relics is Dharmarajika Stupa at Taxila.
Dharmarajika Stupa at Taxila. Erected in the 3rd century BC.
Maurya Empire, 250 BC.
Silver karshapna, Ashoka 200–300 BC, weight 3.39 gm
Silver karshapna, 300–200 BC, weight 3.38 gm
Silver karshapna, 400–200 BC, weight 2.9 gm
Silver karshapna, Magadh, series IV, 400–300 BC, weight 3.4 gm
Indo-Greek Empire (250 to 190 BC). In 184 BC, the Greeks invaded Gandhara under King Demetrius, and he built a new city on the opposite bank of the river Indus. This is now known as Sirkap (meaning 'severed head'). This kingdom extended from Arachosia (modern-day Kandahar in Afghanistan), Punjab and part of Ganges valley. Menander I was its most famous king. He ruled from Taxila and later from Sagala (Sialkot).
Indo-Greeks, 180 BC.
Indo-Greeks,100 BC.
Menander Silver Tetradrachm, 155–130 BC, weight 7.8 gm
Obverse, Diademed bust viewed from behind, brandishing spear in right hand and in aegis on left shoulder.
Reverse, kharoshti legend, Athena Alkidemos holding shield, M in left field, monogram in right field.
Menander, silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, weight 2.35 gm
Obverse helmeted and draped bust of Menander.
Reverse, Athena walking left, brandishing a spear and holding a shield.
Menander Silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, weight 1.7 gm, Pushkalavati mint
Obverse, Diademed draped bust.
Reverse, kharoshti legend, Pallas Athena standing left, holding aegis in left arm and hurling thunderbolt with right, HA monogram.
Apollodotus 1, AR silver Drachm, 174-165 BC, 2.36 gm
Obverse, elephant standing right.
Reverse, Zeba bull standing right.
Graeco-Bactrians, Sakas (called Scythians by the Greek) and Indo-Parthians. Around the time of Menander's death in 140 BC, the Kushans overran Bactria and ended the Greek rule there. Around 80 BC, the Sakas, moved into Gandhara. The famous king of Sakas, Maues, established himself in Gandhara. In 50 BC, the Parthians put an end to the remnants of Greek rule in today's Afghanistan. Eventually an Indo-Parthian dynasty succeeded in taking control of Gandhara. King Gondophares was the ruler.
Indo-Scythian Azes I, 100-35 BC, weight 1.87 gm, king on horseback: Zeus standing.
Indo-Scythian, Azes I, 57-12, BC, weight 11.5 gm. Zebu (humped bull), monogram above, Kharosthi legend: Lion standing right.
Indo-Parthan, Gondophares Drachm, 1st century BC to 1st century AD, weight 2.7 gm
Abdagases, Billon drachm, 55-65 AD, weight 2.4gm. King on horseback: Zeus standing.
Kushan Empire (1st to 5th century AD). They migrated to Gandhara around the 1st century AD from Central Asia and Afghanistan. They selected Peshawar as their capital. Later they expanded into the heartland of India to establish the Kushan Empire, which lasted till the 3rd century AD. In 80 AD, they captured Gandhara from the Parthians. Taxila was founded again and named Sirsukh. It was surrounded by a six-meter-thick wall that was 5 km long. It became a hub of Buddhist activities and was a period of golden age in the history of this region.
Kushan Empire, 1st to 5th century AD.
Vima Kadphises, 113-120 AD, weight 15.99 gm, gold double dinar.
Obverse: King facing left sitting on throne wearing robe, trousers and boots. Greek legend around
Reverse: Oesho standing with trident in hand leaning on a bull. Karosthi legend, maharajasa rajadhirajsa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa vima kathpisasa tradara.
Vasudeva I, tetradrachm, 195-225 AD, weight 8.8 gm
Obverse: diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend
Reverse: Shiva standing holding trident and diadem, bull Nandi left behind, tamgha at right.
Huvishka, Dinar 151-190 AD, weight 7.8 gm, gold
Obverse: diademed and crowned bust holding scepter in one hand and hilt of sword with the other with Bactrian legend
Reverse: Deity standing left with arm extended, lunar "horns" on shoulder, scepter in left arm, holding hilt of sword, tamgha in field .
Buddha, Gandhara, 1st-2nd century AD, ( Tokyo Museum)
Towards the end of the Kushan rule, duration rule of some dynasties is recorded. Quick succession rule by the Sassanian Empire, Kidarites (or little Kushans) and finally the White Huns.
Sasanian Empire from 226 to 651 AD.
Statue of Shapur I, 240-270 AD, located in the Shapur cave, modern Iran.
Bust of king facing right, three toothed crown, Pahlavi legend.
King Khusru II, Drachm, 590-628 AD, weight 3.8 gm, silver.
Vigrahatunga, 7th century, gold-based
Obverse: King standing facing right, sacrificing at altar, Brahmi legend under arm:
Reverse: Ardochsho (Lakshmi) seated facing, Brahmi legend at right, Sri Vigraha at left.
Peroz III, gold dinar, late 4th century AD, weight 7.7 gm
Obverse: King standing facing sacrificing at altar, Brahmi legend in right field, Gandhara under arm:
Reverse: Lakshmi seated holding diadem and cornucopia with Brahmi legend
Kidarite, kota kula, 360-460 AD, weight 5.3 gm (Shiva and bull)
Salanavira, gold dinar, late 4th century AD, weight 7.7 gm.
King standing sacrificing at altar, Brahmi legend, Kushana under arm, kidarite at left: Enthroned Lakshmi seated, holding diadem and cornucopia, Brahmi legend.
Kot Kula 360-460 AD, weight 5 gm
Shiva standing with one arm above head and other arm over Nandi: Kota symbol flanked by semi- circles, dotted border around.
Hephthalite Empire. White Huns of Central Asia ( 5th century AD). The Kidarites ruled till the middle of the 5th century AD when the White Huns, or Hephthalites invaded the region and caused physical destruction. After some years the Huns adopted the Shaivite faith. The importance of Buddhism began to wane. With the White Huns' alliance with the Gupta Empire against the Sassanians also caused the Centre of Buddhism to be subdued and this religion moved up through the northern passes into China and beyond. Hinduism then spread.
White Hun Empire. 5th century AD.
Kabul Shahi. The term is used to denote two former non-Muslim dynasties, the Turk Shahi and the Hindu Shahi. After the fall of the Sassanid Empire to the Arabs in 651 BC, the region south of the Hindukush along with Gandhara came under pressure from the Muslims. Gandhara was ruled from Kabul for the next 200 years by the Kabul Shahi. They were supporters of Buddhism and are generally presented as Buddhists.
Sometimes in the ninth century the Kabul Shahi was replaced by the Hindu Shahi. This was around 850 AD. Kallar, a Brahmin founded the dynasty. They ruled from Kabul and resisted the Muslim expansion of the Abbasid Caliphate, effectively blocking the Muslim conquests, until it fell to the Persian Saffarids. In 1021, the last king of the dynasty Tirlochanpala, was assassinated and it spelled the end of Gandhara.
The Hindu Shahi areas
Kabul Shahi, Spalapati Deva, 750-900 AD, weight 3.42 gm
Bull siting left, trident mint mark on bull, Nagari legend: Sri Spalapati Deva
Spalapati, 750-900 AD, weight 3.3 gm
Samanta Deva, silver Jital, Hindu Shahi, 850-1000 AD, weight 3.4 gm, Horseman advancing right with Nagari legend: Sri Samanta Deva
Spalapati Deva, 800-900 AD, Gandhara.
Marble statue of Ganesha found in Afghanistan, bears year 753 AD and an inscription indicating the image of Mahavinayaka, dedicated to Shahi King Khingala.
The remaining few centuries saw constant invasions from the west, especially Muslim conquest. Mahmud Ghazni, who conquered Gandhara in 1001 AD, has been marked as the destroyer of Gandhara, and he left it as a desolate waste. He was the first ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 998 to 1030 AD. The numerous stone-built cities, monasteries with their valuable and revered monuments and sculptures, were sacked, razed to the ground and destroyed.
Ghaznavid gold, Dinar of Mahmud Ibn Sebuktekin, 998-1030 AD, struck at Ghazana, Inscription, Yamin Al-Dawla, Wa Amin Al-Millah Abul Qasam.
Sultan Mahmud, silver drachm, 999-1030 AD, Ghazana mint, weight 2.9 gm
Mahmud Yamin-al-Dawla Abul- Qasim, Dinar, 998-1030 AD, weight 4.8 gm, Kalima, name of caliph al Qadir.
The old cities and worship places of importance fell out of memory for the next 1500 years until they were rediscovered in the mid 1880 AD by the British explorers.
Some years back, the Taliban targeted Gandhara Buddhist relics and destroyed all the ancient statues in Afghanistan.
Satellite view of erstwhile Gandhara, October 2020 shows a desolate countryside.
Bamiyan: Buddha statue, photo @ Thewait 1974.
Destruction of Bamiyan Buddha, 2001, Photo@ Taysir Alony.
Empty niche of Bamiyan Buddha.
