Gandhara - Rolf Gross

Taxila,6th cent BC - 5th cent ADThe Stupa at Taxila-Sirkap, decorated with Hindu, Buddhist, and Greek tsculpturesPhoto and text from WikipediaTaxila is an archaeological site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandharan city ofTakshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist centre oflearning from the 6th BC century to the 5th cent AD. Taxila lay at the crossroads ofthree major trade routes: the royal highway from Pa?aliputra; the north-western routethrough Bactria, Kapisha, and Puskalavati (Peshawar); and the route from Kashmir andCentral Asia, via Srinigar, Mansehra, and the Haripur valley across the Khunjerab pass tothe Silk Road.In 326 BC Alexander the Great received the submission of Ambhi, king of Taxila.During the reign of Ashoka (3nd cent AD), Taxila became an influential centre ofBuddhist learning.Assorted Greek satraps held sway in Taxila until in 460–470 AD the Ephthalites sweeptover Gandhara and the Punjab, resulting in the destruction of Buddhist monasteries andstupas at Taxila. The invasion of Islam in the 8th cent AD did the rest.For an excellent, detailed article on the art and history of Taxila see Jona Lendering,Livius.com