Portal:India/Today's selected article/January 20, 2007

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The

Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius invaded India in 180 BCE, ultimately creating an entity which seceded from the powerful Greco-Bactrian Kingdom centered in Bactria (today's northern Afghanistan
).

During the two centuries of their rule, the Indo-Greek kings combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins, and blended

Buddhist religious practices, as seen in the archaeological remains of their cities and in the indications of their support of Buddhism. The Indo-Greek kings seem to have achieved a level of cultural syncretism with no equivalent in history, the consequences of which are still felt today, particularly through the diffusion and influence of Greco-Buddhist art
.

The Indo-Greeks ultimately disappeared as a political entity around 10 CE following the invasions of the

Kushans, although pockets of Greek populations probably remained for several centuries longer. (more...
)

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