DOCSLIB.ORG

Copper Coins of Vima Kadphises in the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Copper Coins of Vima Kadphises in the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi Ancient Pakistan, Vol. XXIII 103 Copper Coins of Vima Kadphises in the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi Gul Rahim Khan and M. Nasim Khan Introduction Cribb, 2005 & 2008, 67; Loeschner, 2008, 15-18). The National Museum of Pakistan Karachi possesses more than sixty thousand coins of The coins of this ruler are common and various dynasties and states that were issued frequently found in the Oxus Valley and circulated in different eras. The coins of (Zeymal, 1997, 90-94; Abdullaev, 2004, 272- ancient dynasties of this region represented 79), Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Gangetic by the museum are in immense number. region in India (Altekar, 1950, 121-23; Jain, Amongst these the Kushan dynasty, which is 1965, 118-19 & 1966, 1-5; Srivastava, 1986, known to have ruled from 1st to 4th century 142-43; Srivastava, 1980 & 1989, 119-23; CE, is well known for its coins struck both in Gupta, 1994, 22-31). According to gold and copper. The gold coins of this numismatic evidences, Vima Kadphises had dynasty (including earlier dynasties) and extended the Kushan rule further east beyond copper coins of the two emperors i.e. the limits of Mathura. In these regions the Kanishka and Huvishka lying in the National coins of this ruler are normally reported in Museum of Pakistan are already published hoards which found together with the coins by the author in various research journals of his successors i.e. Kanishka and Huvishka. (Khan, 2009/a; 2009/b & 2010/a). In this respect it is the 4th paper of a series of the This was Vima Kadphises who originated the Kushan coins lying in the cabinet of the true Kushan coinage, which thereafter with National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi. little modifications adopted and developed by the subsequent rulers of the dynasty. He As evident from the title, this paper is based started the gold coins of dinar standard (8.00 on the copper coins of Vima Kadphises, third gm) and the heavy copper of tetra-drachm emperor of the Kushans. Earlier this ruler unit (c. 17 gm). These coins were further had long been considered as the son and known in other denominations as well. In the successor of Kujula Kadphises but during the time of Huvishka the copper coins were then second half of 20th century he was placed issued in one denomination, which after the nameless king ‘Soter Megas’ and progressively struck in reduced weight by now is firmly confirmed in the same position him and the successors (Khan, 2010/b & after the discovery of the Rabatak inscription 2011). The credit also goes to Vima (Sims-Williams & Cribb 1996 & Sims- Kadphises who introduced the full length Williams, 2008, 53-68). In this way he was figure of monarch in standing position shown the third ruler in succession after Kujula on the obverse of his copper coins. The basic Kadphises and Vima Taktu. The reign of idea of standing figure was derived from the Vima Kadphises was occurred in the reverse design of the Parthian king Gotarzes, beginning of 2nd century and would likely to who ruled from 40/41 to 51 AD (Mukherjee, have concluded before 127 CE, i.e. 1960, 110). The king is shown standing beginning of Kanishka Era (Falk, 2001, 127- frontally with head turned to left and right 33 & 2004, 167-73; Bopearachchi, 2007, 50; hand sacrificing over altar. He wears long Ancient Pakistan, Vol. XXIII 104 kaftan over tunic, loose trousers and heavy blobs. But on some fine examples as boots of the Kushan style. This type of described by Perkins the lateral heads are standing figure was uniformly appeared on distinguishable i.e. human and horned animal his all copper coins and a rare specimen of (prob. antelope) (Perkins, 2007). In this silver (Rosenfield, 1967, 25). This style of respect Bopearachchi (2007, 43-44) and standing figure became the characteristic Srinivasan (2008, 132) also have the same feature of the Kushan coinage and was views of three-headed Śiva found on the commonly used by all the successors. With coins of Vima Kadphises. the case of Huvishka, this figure is rarely seen on the copper coins but not known on The copper coins of this ruler are usually his gold. The gold coins of Huvishka were known in three denominations such as tetra- struck with variety of other designs mostly drachm (c. 17 gm), di-drachm (8.5 gm) and taken from Vima Kadphises’ gold but not drachm (4.2 gm) units of Attic standard. This shown in standing position as cited above. kind of weight analysis representing copper coins of Vima Kadphises and other Kushan The reverse of copper coins of Vima rulers was elaborately discussed by Kadphises bears a single design i.e. Śiva (or MacDowall (1960). The heavy unit coins Oesho) standing with his mount, bull. The (tetradrachm) of this ruler are more common figure of Śiva is shown standing frontally than the lower denominations of copper. and bull standing behind the deity is facing Besides this, the copper issues generally fall to right. The deity holds a trident in his into two categories: (a) monolingual coins raised right hand and animal’s pelt or and (b) bilingual coins. The monolingual drapery in the left leaning against bull’s coins contain a Greek legend on the reverse, hump. Śiva wears beaded string over his left and reel and beaded border on the obverse. shoulder and transparent mantle where erect These coins are generally suggested to have phallus is visible and the folds of mantle are issued from Bactria. But Robert Bracey has a clearly seen over his lower body particularly different opinion regarding the production of the legs. Moreover, the figure bears three- these issues and considered them the initial pronged flames at top of the head and stage coinage of Vima Kadphises (Bracey, sometimes he is shown with prominent 2010, 42). The bilingual coins have a Greek breasts. Joe Cribb elaborately discussed this legend on the obverse and Kharoshthi on the deity and identified all varieties of the figure reverse were likely to have issued to the appeared on the gold and copper coins of south of the Hindu-Kush. Each category is Vima Kadphises and successors (Cribb, further classified into sub-varieties by the 1997). In this analytical study, he noted two cited above weight units. normal and four exceptional varieties of Śiva on the coins of Vima Kadphises. Looking to the number of Vima’s copper with other Great Kushan rulers like Kanishka On the copper coins of Vima Kadphises, the and Huvishka, the coins of this ruler are reverse figure seems to be three-headed Śiva, comparatively less common. Accordingly the as interpreted by John Perkins (2007). Many National Museum of Pakistan contains forty good examples of the National Museum of one coins of this ruler as compare to the Pakistan such as nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, ninety one coins of Kanishka (Khan, 2009/b) 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 31 and 37 bear similar and fifty six of Huvishka (Khan, 2010/a). evidence, which further strengthen the views The catalogue of coins of the Punjab of three-headed Śiva highlighted by Perkins. Museum Lahore also represents same kind of The lateral heads are usually seen as side statistical data about these coins i.e. thirty Ancient Pakistan, Vol. XXIII 105 two of Vima Kadphises, 108 each of Perkins who identified three-headed Śiva Kanishka and Huvishka (Whitehead, 1914, figure on the copper coins of Vima also 183-207). classified the bilingual issues into three sub- groups (Perkins, 2007, 36). His classification These coins are well reported and discussed is generally focused on the style of legend, in every catalogue related to the Kushan altar variations, heads of Śiva, letter forms period. There is no major dispute about the and word deterioration. Robert Bracey while sequence and attribution of the copper coins conducting extensive work on the die study of this ruler. However in the beginning of of gold and copper coins of this ruler marked numismatic studies of the Kushans some four varieties of the bilingual issues of scholars have placed Vasudeva copper along copper. The order of these varieties is as with Vima Kadphises. This arrangement was follows: D1, A1, A2 and B1 (Bracey, 2010, made due to the close similarities of the coin 42-44). The first three varieties are designs of both the rulers (Masson, 1834; corresponding with the first bilingual series Thomas, 1858; Wilson, 1841). and the fourth with the second bilingual series of Mitchiner. Bracey’s classifications Recent Work on Vima’s Copper are almost similar with those of Perkins but he observed many new elements like the As described above, the two-grouped number of spikes in a club, tip of sword classification i.e. monolingual series of coins underneath the kaftan of ruler, design of and bilingual series of the copper coins of altar, style of legend and words composition Vima Kadphises has been the well known particularly in the Greek legend. His way of mechanism on the basis of which these coins classification is very sensible and helpful to were usually catalogued in the early works. understand the scheme of Vima coinage. But in the result of recent scholarships the Further, he is very conscious about the bilingual coins of Vima Kadphises are distribution and sequence of these varieties further classified into several varieties. In and the coins of the last group are treated this regard Michael Mitchiner’s separately and considered them the different classification is very comprehensive who style of coinage (Bracey, 2010, 42-44).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Revised Dates for the Deposition of the Begram Hoard and Occupation at the New Royal City”, Parthica, 19, 75-104
    Morris, L. 2017. “Revised dates for the deposition of the Begram hoard and occupation at the New Royal City”, Parthica, 19, 75-104. REVISED DATES FOR THE DEPOSITION OF THE BEGRAM HOARD AND OCCUPATION AT THE NEW ROYAL CITY * LAUREN MORRIS ABSTRACT This paper offers two major revisions to the chronology of the archaeological site of Begram (Afghanistan). The first revision pertains to when the Begram hoard was deposited (i.e. not when the objects were produced). Based on the new identification of three coins from room 10 as belonging to the post-Vasudeva Oesho with bull series, as well as an analysis of the distribution of the hoard objects and the degradation of the surrounding structure, a terminus post quem for this event is fixed at c. 260 AD. The second revision relates to the occupation of Site II and other areas of the New Royal City. Drawing on architectural, ceramic, and numismatic evidence, it is argued that both Ghirshman’s attribution of the Site II structure to Niveau II only, and his attribution of the Qala to Niveau III, are incorrect. Rather, it seems that the Site II structure was renovated and continued to be occupied through Niveau III, and was occupied at the same time as the upper occupation layers at Site B, Site I, and the city entrance. The hoard was likely deposited with the abandonment of the New Royal City at the end of Niveau III. KEYWORDS: Begram, hoard, archives, Musée Guimet, Vasudeva imitation, Kushano- Sasanian. THE SITE, DATA, AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Begram is the modern name for an urban site (34°59'42"N, 69°18'39"E) ca.
    [Show full text]
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Peshawar Museum Is a Rich Repository of the Unique Art Pieces of Gandhara Art in Stone, Stucco, Terracotta and Bronze
    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Peshawar Museum is a rich repository of the unique art pieces of Gandhara Art in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze. Among these relics, the Buddhist Stone Sculptures are the most extensive and the amazing ones to attract the attention of scholars and researchers. Thus, research was carried out on the Gandharan Stone Sculptures of the Peshawar Museum under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali, the then Director of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of NWFP, currently Vice Chancellor Hazara University and Muhammad Naeem Qazi, Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar. The Research team headed by the authors included Messrs. Syed Ayaz Ali Shah, Muhammad Ashfaq, Abdul Hameed Chitrali, Muhammad Zahir, Asad Raza, Shahid Khan, Muhammad Imran Khan, Asad Ali, Muhammad Haroon, Ubaidullah Afghani, Kaleem Jan, Adnan Ahmad, Farhana Waqar, Saima Afzal, Farkhanda Saeed and Ihsanullah Jan, who contributed directly or indirectly to the project. The hard working team with its coordinated efforts usefully assisted for completion of this research project and deserves admiration for their active collaboration during the period. It is great privilege to offer our sincere thanks to the staff of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Govt. of NWFP, for their outright support, in the execution of this research conducted during 2002-06. Particular mention is made here of Mr. Saleh Muhammad Khan, the then Curator of the Peshawar Museum, currently Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of NWFP. The pioneering and relevant guidelines offered by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of NWFP deserve appreciation for their technical support and ensuring the availability of relevant art pieces.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on the Yuezhi - Kushan Relationship and Kushan Chronology”, by Hans Loeschner
    “Notes on the Yuezhi - Kushan Relationship and Kushan Chronology”, by Hans Loeschner Notes on the Yuezhi – Kushan Relationship and Kushan Chronology By Hans Loeschner Professor Michael Fedorov provided a rejoinder1 with respect to several statements in the article2 “A new Oesho/Shiva image of Sasanian ‘Peroz’ taking power in the northern part of the Kushan empire”. In the rejoinder Michael Fedorov states: “The Chinese chronicles are quite unequivocal and explicit: Bactria was conquered by the Ta-Yüeh-chih! And it were the Ta-Yüeh-chih who split the booty between five hsi-hou or rather five Ta-Yüeh-chih tribes ruled by those hsi-hou (yabgus) who created five yabguates with capitals in Ho-mo, Shuang-mi, Hu-tsao, Po-mo, Kao-fu”. He concludes the rejoinder with words of W.W. Tarn3: “The new theory, which makes the five Yüeh- chih princes (the Kushan chief being one) five Saka princes of Bactria conquered by the Yüeh- chih, throws the plain account of the Hou Han shu overboard. The theory is one more unhappy offshoot of the elementary blunder which started the belief in a Saka conquest of Greek Bactria”.1 With respect to the ethnical allocation of the five hsi-hou Laszlo Torday provides an analysis with a result which is in contrast to the statement of Michael Fedorov: “As to the kings of K’ang- chü or Ta Yüeh-shih, those chiefs of foreign tribes who acknowledged their supremacy were described in the Han Shu as “lesser kings” or hsi-hou. … The hsi-hou (and their fellow tribespeople) were ethnically as different from the Yüeh-shih and K’ang-chü as were the hou… from the Han.
    [Show full text]
  • Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art
    Rienjang and Stewart (eds) Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art Edited by Wannaporn Rienjang Peter Stewart Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art Since the beginning of Gandhāran studies in the nineteenth century, chronology has been one of the most significant challenges to the understanding of Gandhāran art. Many other ancient societies, including those of Greece and Rome, have left a wealth of textual sources which have put their fundamental chronological frameworks beyond doubt. In the absence of such sources on a similar scale, even the historical eras cited on inscribed Gandhāran works of art have been hard to place. Few sculptures have such inscriptions and the majority lack any record of find-spot or even general provenance. Those known to have been found at particular sites were sometimes moved and reused in antiquity. Consequently, the provisional dates assigned to extant Gandhāran sculptures have sometimes differed by centuries, while the narrative of artistic development remains doubtful and inconsistent. Building upon the most recent, cross-disciplinary research, debate and excavation, this volume reinforces a new consensus about the chronology of Gandhāra, bringing the history of Gandhāran art into sharper focus than ever. By considering this tradition in its wider context, alongside contemporary Indian art and subsequent developments in Central Asia, the authors also open up fresh questions and problems which a new phase of research will need to address. Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art is the first publication of the Gandhāra Connections project at the University of Oxford’s Classical Art Research Centre, which has been supported by the Bagri Foundation and the Neil Kreitman Foundation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Copper Hoard of the Great Kushans from Jamrud (Khyber Agency), Pakistan Gul Rahim Khan and Muhammad Naeem Qazi
    Ancient Pakistan, Vol. XXV (2014) 1 A Copper Hoard of the Great Kushans from Jamrud (Khyber Agency), Pakistan Gul Rahim Khan and Muhammad Naeem Qazi Abstract: Copper hoards with small quantity of coins particularly of the Kushan period are not often appreciated for publication. But when such a parcel of coins is known from proper context then it is well praised by the scholars. Moreover, when such a collection containing coins of some interest then it is a noteworthy piece of evidence and always contributes something new to the site and history of that period. The present lot which is small but yields many things of interest like its provenance, the Buddhist site near Peshawar, and bearing two coins of the Buddha image. Keyword: Kushans, Kanishka, Huvishka, Ardoxsho, Huvishka. A small hoard of copper of the Kushan period and local people. During his visit the author got was reported to the authors about nineteen years some photographs of the site and other ago. This parcel of coins was unearthed by a antiquities but they disappeared few years back local person from a Buddhist site lying to the due to the shifting of his residence to the west of Zor Gudar, a small village at Jamrud, University campus. However, the principal Khayber Agency on the west of Peshawar. The author recently found a set of photographs along said village is located about 2.5 km to the north with hand written description of those coins west of the famous Jamrud fort and 6.0 km when they were first discovered and handed over northwest of the modern town of Hayatabad in to him for study in 1996.
    [Show full text]
  • Gandharan Sculptures in the Peshawar Museum (Life Story of Buddha)
    Gandharan Sculptures in the Peshawar Museum (Life Story of Buddha) Ihsan Ali Muhammad Naeem Qazi Hazara University Mansehra NWFP – Pakistan 2008 Uploaded by [email protected] © Copy Rights reserved in favour of Hazara University, Mansehra, NWFP – Pakistan Editors: Ihsan Ali* Muhammad Naeem Qazi** Price: US $ 20/- Title: Gandharan Sculptures in the Peshawar Museum (Life Story of Buddha) Frontispiece: Buddha Visiting Kashyapa Printed at: Khyber Printers, Small Industrial Estate, Kohat Road, Peshawar – Pakistan. Tel: (++92-91) 2325196 Fax: (++92-91) 5272407 E-mail: [email protected] Correspondence Address: Hazara University, Mansehra, NWFP – Pakistan Website: hu.edu.pk E-mail: [email protected] * Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar, Currently Vice Chancellor, Hazara University, Mansehra, NWFP – Pakistan ** Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan CONTRIBUTORS 1. Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali, Vice Chancellor Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan 2. Muhammad Naeem Qazi, Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 3. Ihsanullah Jan, Lecturer, Department of Cultural Heritage & Tourism Management, Hazara University 4. Muhammad Ashfaq, University Museum, Hazara University 5. Syed Ayaz Ali Shah, Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 6. Abdul Hameed Chitrali, Lecturer, Department of Cultural Heritage & Tourism Management, Hazara University 7. Muhammad Imran Khan, Archaeologist, Charsadda, Pakistan 8. Muhammad Haroon, Archaeologist, Mardan, Pakistan III ABBREVIATIONS A.D.F.C. Archaeology Department, Frontier Circle A.S.I. Archaeological Survery of India A.S.I.A.R. Archaeological Survery of India, Annual Report D.G.A. Director General of Archaeology E.G.A.C. Exhibition of the German Art Council I.G.P. Inspector General Police IsMEO Instituto Italiano Per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente P.M.
    [Show full text]
  • NOTES on HELLENISM in BACTRIA and INDIA. How Far Can The
    NOTES ON HELLENISM IN BACTRIA AND INDIA. How far can the kingdoms in Bactria and India, ruled by kings with Greek names, be called Hellenistic, and how far were they simply native? These pages were put together with this question in view ; they have no claim to be more than an attempt to get certain problems stated, to which some day some further answer may be given by the spade. The series of these kings stretches from the levolt of Diodotos, about 250 B.C., to the final merger of Indo-Greek rule in that of the Indo-Scyths in 26 B.C. The period is bisected by the conquest of Bactria by the Yue-tche, which probably took some little while to complete, but with respect to which our information centres on the year 128 B.C. By the time of Augustus, a number of merchant- men were sailing directly from the Red Sea to India, a rare event under the Ptolemies; and this traffic increased later, when in the reign of Nero was made that discovery, or rediscovery, of the monsoons vvhicli is associated with the name of Hippalos. To arrive, therefore, at any ideas about the kingdoms of Alexander's successors beyond Parthia, it is necessary to distinguish as carefully as possible the information with regard to India, and the traces of western influence on things Indian, which can be dated later than (say) the Christian era, (and which belong rather to the history of Rome), from information which can be, or may be, dated prior to 26 B.C., or I might almost say prior to 100 B.C., (the time between these two dates being for my purpose a blank); and only to make use of the former sources when they clearly refer to something that falls within the period under consideration.
    [Show full text]
  • Language and Legend in Early Kushan Coinage: Progression and Transformation Razieh Taasob Princeton University
    2018, No. 5 © Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture, University of California, Irvine ISSN: 2470 - 4040 Language and Legend in Early Kushan Coinage: Progression and Transformation Razieh Taasob Princeton University 71 Introdu' ion: arly Kushan coinage displays its aff iliation and syncretism with former coin pra9 ices not only in the Erepresentation of royal and religious imagery, but also in the language, legends and the execution of inscriptions. The Kushans continued the traditional Greek pra9 ices that had already been adopted by the Greco-Ba9 rians, specifically the use of the Greek language on their coinage as seen frequently in Ba9 ria. In conformity with other former traditions, the Kushans also maintained the Indo-Greek prac- tices employed south of the Hindu Kush by using bilingual inscriptions on their coinage. The languages used south of the Hindu Kush were predominantly Greek for the obverse type and PrakritH (wriJ en in Brahmi and Kharoshthi script) for the reverse. The Indo-Greeks introduced the use of the Kharoshthi script for coinage, and it was subsequently applied by the Indo-Scythians and Indo-Parthians in their respe9 ive regions. This script was used in the area of the Indus, Swat, and Kabul valleys and in a wide area of northern India and the surrounding regions. Evidence of this can be seen on the coinage of the H- “The language of Indic inscription”. The Prakrit or middle Indo-Aryan (MIA) language was the only inscriptional language from the third to firQ century BC, which endured as a common language for coinage for more than two centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghan Studies
    ------~-- -~---·-~- ..----------~-~ AFGHAN STUDIES Volume 1 1978 __/-::-;:-~ ( '\ I . ') i i J \ ·/ .. .- ·-\_ / ' '.,/ -... _ . : Sodety for Afghan· Studies . clo British Academy, Burlington· House, Piccadilly, London Wl "'-O~S_ ' . + , .. • > AFGHAN STUDIES VOLUME I 1978 h'dited hy Norman I larnmond Contents The Orbit of Afghan Studies, by H. W. Bailey Excavations at Kandahar Preliminary Note, by P. M. Fraser 9 Excavations at Kandahar 1974: First Interim Report, by David Whitehouse 9 Excavations at Kandahar 1975: Second Interim Report, by Anthony McNicoll 41 Pre-Islamic coins in Kandahar Museum, by David W. Mac Dowall and M. Ibrahim 67 Nuristan: Mountain Communities in the Hindu Kush, by Schuyler Jones 79 Consolidated Report of the Secretary 1972-1977 93 List of Members at 30 June 1977 100 THE ORBIT OF AFGHAN STUDIES A Lecture given at the Society's Inaugural Meeting H. W.Bailey The intense interest in the Afghanistan of today, which has led to the foundation of the Society for Afghan Studies and to the establishment of a British Institute in Kabul with a Director and a view to extensive research, can be traced to at least four factors. There is first the adjacency to the Indian sub-continent with which Britain has had so long a rnnnexion, with Pa~tun or Pa than on either side of the Pakistan frontier, with all its complexities of modern diplomacy and the rapid development of communication in this second half of the twentieth century, that is, then, an interest of traveller or of student of politics in a newly accessible country. The second factor can be seen in the history of the land for the past 2500 years (and even earlier of the dark period before the Achaemenian Persians advanced to the Hindu~ land) which was earlier widely familiar to Classical scholars and with which even now in spite of the more restricted knowledge of the Classics many are acquainted.
    [Show full text]
  • Please Do Not Remove from the Gallery
    Coins SECOND ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT Greek inscriptions, royal portraits, and images of Greek deities such as Athena were standard features on coins Elephant, obverse side of a coin The Greek deity Athena, reverse issued by the Indo-Greek rulers issued by the Indo-Greek king side of a coin issued by the Indo- of Central Asia and northern Apollodotus I Greek king Menander I Afghanistan during the centuries Approx. 180–160 BCE Approx. 155–130 BCE Afghanistan, former kingdom of Bactria; Afghanistan, former kingdom of Bactria; just before the Common Era. or Pakistan, ancient region of Gandhara or Pakistan, ancient region of Gandhara Many Indo-Greek coins bore Silver Silver translations of the Greek into THIRD ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT F1999.38.7 F1999.38.6 a local script and language on their reverse sides, indicating the great cultural diversity in this area of the ancient world. The combination on coins of royal portraiture and divine imagery—a powerful statement Standing portrait of the Kushan king Standing portrait of the Kushan king The Iranian deity Ardoksho, reverse The Indian deity Shiva (identified of divinely sanctioned rule— Vima Kadphises, obverse side of a Kanishka, obverse side of a coin side of a coin issued by the Kushan as Oesho), obverse side of a coin was used for many centuries coin issued by Vima Kadphises issued by Kanishka king Huvishka issued by the Kushan king Vasudeva Approx. 75–100 in Central and South Asia, as Approx. 127–150 Approx. 126–163 Approx. 163–200 Northwest India or Pakistan; ancient Northwest India or Pakistan; ancient Northwest India or Pakistan; ancient Northwest India or Pakistan; ancient others of these coins show.
    [Show full text]
  • Gandhara: an Appriasal of Its Meanings and History
    Mr. Tauqeer Ahmad Warraich GANDHARA: AN APPRIASAL OF ITS MEANINGS AND HISTORY Gandhara---Meaning: The word Gandhara makes its first appearance in the oldest religious literature of South Asia, i-e, Rig-veda (Griffeth 1968:652), which is generally thought to have approximately been composed between 1500 to 1000 BC (Basham 1963:31). So for as the meanings of the world Gandhara is concerned it is often translated as ‘the land of fragrance’------- taking “gand” as fragrance and “hara” the land. Thus, the composite form of the word Gandhara suggests “a country or piece of land the soil of which yielded abundant fragrance and because of this quality it, apparently, came to be known as Gandhara ‘the land of fragrance’. In the Vedic and -Puranic literaute the Gandhara is frequently referred to as “Uttara” (northern) country, inhabited by gandharas (Raposn 1955:26). Moreover, kien-to-lo of the Chinese pilgrims is also identified as Gandhara (Cuningham 1924:55). The measurement of its boundaries are however for the first time described only by Xuan Zang (Beal 1969:55). Thus, the country of kien-to-lo measures 1000 li east to west and 800 li form north to west. This measurement corresponds with present valley of Peshawar as it is marked by Jalalabad hills on its west and eastern limits by river Sindhu, Swat and Burner hills on northern, and Kala Bagh hills on southern sides, respectively (Cunningham 1924:55). It seems that the term Gandhara is not unusual in the region as we have other nomenclatures on the same pattern such as Nagarahara, Pothohara (or correctly Pithohara), Vanahara etc, which are stretching to western and eastern sides of Gandhara.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Eurasian Studies
    JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES _____________________________________________________________________________________ Journal of the Gábor Bálint de Szentkatolna Society Founded: 2009. Internet: www.federatio.org/joes.html _____________________________________________________________________________________ Volume II., Issue 2. / April — June 2010 ____________________ ISSN 1877-4199 April-June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES Volume II., Issue 2. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Publisher Foundation 'Stichting MIKES INTERNATIONAL', established in The Hague, Holland. Account: Postbank rek.nr. 7528240 Registered: Stichtingenregister: S 41158447 Kamer van Koophandel en Fabrieken Den Haag Distribution The periodical can be downloaded from the following Internet-address: http://www.federatio.org/joes.html If you wish to subscribe to the email mailing list, you can do it by sending an email to the following address: [email protected] The publisher has no financial sources. It is supported by many in the form of voluntary work and gifts. We kindly appreciate your gifts. Address The Editors and the Publisher can be contacted at the following addresses: Email: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 10249, 2501 HE, Den Haag, Holland Individual authors are responsible for facts included and views expressed in their articles. _____________________________________ ISSN 1877-4199 © Mikes International, 2001-2010, All Rights Reserved _____________________________________________________________________________________
    [Show full text]