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Gandhara

Also known as: Gandhara; Gandhara (Pakistan)
Scope note: Gandhara is a historical region that encompassed areas of present-day north-western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, broadly corresponding to the Vale of Peshawar and extending further into the lower valleys of the Kabul and Swat Rivers. Gandhara was the easternmost province of the Achaemenid Empire until the region was conquered by Alexander the Great in ca. 327 BC. In ca. 305 BC, Seleucus I Nicator (a general of Alexander and the founder of the Seleucid Empire) handed down Gandhara to Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Maurya Empire that controlled most of the Indian subcontinent until ca. 185 BC. The region was then ruled by the Indo-Greeks who descended from Bactria in the 2nd C BC, by the Sakas (a nomadic tribe of Central Asian origins) in the 1stC BC, and eventually by the Indo-Parthians in the 1stC AD. Gandhara then became part of the Kushan Empire. Under the Kushan ruler Kanishka (late 1st C - early 2ndC AD), Gandhara was the centre of a very large empire, extending from Central Asia to North India, that had diplomatic ties with the Romanised Mediterranean and China. In mid-3rd C, the Sasanians, rulers of Iran, invaded Gandhara that was then captured by the Kidarites at the end of the 4thC and then by the Ephtalites at the end of the 5thC, when the Huns conquest of northern India started. Before the Islamic rule was established in Gandhara in the 11thC, the two Shahi dynasties, one of Turkic origin and one of Hindu origin, reigned over the region. See also Gandhara School in the School field.
Broader terms: Pakistan; Gandhara
Narrower terms: Attock District; Bajaur; Buner; Charsadda District; Kashmiri Smast; Mardan District; Swat District; Swat Valley; Taxila (Gandhara)

1,679 related objects

amulet-box

Museum number: 1880.29 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Ahin Posh

arch

Museum number: 1899,0609.65 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kafir-Kot

architecture

Museum number: 1959,0323.1 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

architecture

Museum number: 1892,0801.16 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

architecture

Museum number: 1950,1211.2 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Takht-i-Bahi

architecture

Museum number: 1899,0609.63 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kafir-Kot

architecture

Museum number: 1904,1217.32 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Swat Valley

architecture

Museum number: 1880.201 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

architecture

Museum number: 1952,1024.2 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jamalgarhi

architecture

Museum number: 1902,1002.52 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

base

Title: Pedestal of a statue |
Museum number: 1880.192 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

base

Title: The Hashtnagar Pedestal |
Museum number: 1890,1116.1 |
Production date: 384 |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Palatu-dheriFound/Acquired:Rajar

base

Museum number: 1899,0609.61 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kafir-Kot

base

Museum number: 1902,1002.17 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

base

Museum number: 1892,0801.11 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

base

Museum number: 1899,0609.59 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kafir-Kot

block

Museum number: 1961,0519.8 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:North West Frontier Province

box

Museum number: 1887,0717.31 |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

box

Museum number: 1951,0508.2.b |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

bracket; figure; architecture

Museum number: 1888,0806.4 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Yusufzai

bracket; figure

Museum number: 1959,0717.1 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

bracket; figure

Museum number: 1914,0502.4 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Swat Valley

bracket; figure

Museum number: 1904,1217.33 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Swat Valley

bracket; figure; architecture

Museum number: 1904,1217.34 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Swat Valley

bracket; figure

Museum number: 1949,0718.48 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kadas Ghundai

bracket

Museum number: 1899,0609.36 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kafir-Kot

capital

Museum number: 1880.197 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jamalgarhi

capital

Museum number: 1902,1002.56 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

capital

Museum number: 1880.172 |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jamalgarhi

capital

Museum number: 1902,1002.58 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

capital

Museum number: 1880.327 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

capital

Museum number: 1880.174 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

capital

Museum number: 1902,1002.55 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

capital

Museum number: 1880.357 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jamalgarhi

capital

Museum number: 1889,0703.2 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jamalgarhi

capital

Museum number: 1902,1002.54 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:BunerFound/Acquired:Swat Valley

capital

Museum number: 1902,1002.57 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Swat ValleyFound/Acquired:Buner

casket; reliquary

Museum number: 1880.92 |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 1stC-2ndC |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Pakistan

coin

Museum number: 1850,1130.113 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1860,1220.285 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.791 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1012 |
Authority: BIOG116886 Ruler:Vakka Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.716 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.438 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.713 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1083 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1923,0317.15 |
Authority: BIOG109153 Ruler:Hala |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1072 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1850,0305.552 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1053 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1860,1220.286 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1870,0507.13045 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.886 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.427 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1922,0213.92 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1087 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1853,0301.441 |
Authority: BIOG116886 Ruler:Vakka Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1073 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1850,0305.537 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1049 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1855,0608.42 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1081 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1949,0803.85 |
Cultures/periods: x95546 Hun |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.787 |
Authority: BIOG116886 Ruler:Vakka Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.712 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.823 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1855,0608.46 |
Authority: BIOG110593 Ruler:Kamala |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1098 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.705 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.714 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1927,0208.4 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.711 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1850,0305.383 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.872 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.623 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1850,0305.545 |
Authority: BIOG104110 Ruler:Bhima-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1011 |
Authority: BIOG110701 Ruler:Khamarayaka |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1855,0608.31 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1922,0213.93 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOC.794 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.651 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.732 |
Authority: BIOG116887 Ruler:Vakka-Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1044 |
Authority: BIOG109153 Ruler:Hala |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.715 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1850,1130.104 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1046 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1922,0424.4477 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.710 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1080 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1043 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1007 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.1074 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.709 |
Authority: BIOG114788 Ruler:Samanta Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: OR.718 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: 1894,0507.430 |
Authority: BIOG115415 Ruler:Spalapati Deva |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)

coin

Museum number: IOLC.4330 |
Authority: Ruler:Hormizd I, KushanshahIssuer:Meze |
Cultures/periods: x14131 Kushano-Sasanian |
Production date: 285-300 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Begram

coin

Museum number: IOLC.4279 |
Authority: Ruler:Hormizd I, KushanshahIssuer:Kabad |
Cultures/periods: x14131 Kushano-Sasanian |
Production date: 285-300 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Begram

coin

Museum number: IOLC.3286 |
Authority: BIOG109879 Ruler:Huvishka |
Cultures/periods: x25064 Kushan |
Production date: 150-190 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Begram

coin; misstrike

Museum number: IOLC.4292 |
Authority: Ruler:Hormizd I, KushanshahIssuer:Kabad |
Cultures/periods: x14131 Kushano-Sasanian |
Production date: 285-300 |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Begram

coin

Museum number: 1894,0506.273 |
Cultures/periods: x95546 Hun |
Production place: Minted in:Gandhara (Pakistan)