A Greek Cult in Hellenistic Baktria (Ancient Afghanistan)

The conquests of Alexander the Great ushered into the former Persian realm an unprecedented Greek diaspora that resulted in multifaceted settlements throughout Asia. One such site was the city of Ai Khanoum in Hellenistic Baktria, ancient Afghanistan. Its historical significance is rooted in its status as a rare Hellenistic city in the heart of Central Asia. The discovery of this site in 1964 stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of Hellenistic civilization at the crossroads of civilizations that once converged in this region. Although excavations conducted between 1965 and 1978 by the French Archaeological Delegation were never completed, enough material was recovered to allow us to form a general picture of the city’s history.

In the mid-third century BCE, a self-proclaimed king named Diodotos I declared the country of Baktria independent. He was faced with the problem of asserting his legitimacy as a viable authority. One method that he used to establish his sovereignty was by maintaining Greek cult sanctuaries established by his predecessors. Such was the case with the remains of the so-called temple à redans at Ai Khanoum. Among the sculptural fragments found in this Hellenistic temple were portions of a statue. These constitute the last vestiges of a living religion. At the heart of Greek religious practice was the manifestation of figuration used to differentiate one deity from the next. Ever since the temple was excavated in 1969, this cult statue has been recognized as Zeus.

With the aid of art, coins and historical texts, this talk will propose that these remains form a narrative, revealing a different identification of this deity. The result is a number of implications regarding the kind of cult that was worshipped and our understanding of the nature of Hellenism in Central Asia.