Surkh Kotal Afghanistan

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Surkh Kotal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Surkh Kotal was located in the southern portion ofBactria . History of Afghanistan Timeline Ancient[show] Medieval[show] Modern[show] Book Category Portal V T E

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Surkh Kotal Afghanistan

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Surkh KotalFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Surkh Kotal was located in the southern portion ofBactria.

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Surkh Kotal(Persian:;Pashto: ), also calledChashma-i ShirorSar-i Chashma, is an ancient archaeological site located in the southern part of the region ofBactria, about 18km north of the city ofPuli Khumri, the capital ofBaghlan ProvinceofAfghanistan.[1]It is the location of monumental constructions made during the rule of theKushans. Huge temples, statues of Kushan rulers and the Surkh Kotal inscription, which revealed part of the chronology of early Kushan emperors (also called Great Kushans) were all found there. TheRabatak inscriptionwhich gives remarkable clues on the genealogy of the Kushan dynasty was also found in theRobatakvillage just outside the site.The site of Surkh Kotal, excavated between 1952 and 1966 by Prof. Schlumberger of theDlgation Archologique Franaise en Afghanistan, is the main site excavated of the Kushan Empire. Some of the site's sculptures were transferred to theNational Museum of Afghanistan(also known as the 'Kabul Museum'), the rest of the site was completely looted during theAfghan Civil War. The most famous artifacts of this site are the Surkh Kotal inscriptions, the statue of King Kanishka and the fire altar. The statue of the king was destroyed during theTalibanwave oficonoclasmin FebruaryMarch 2001, but has been restored by French conservationists. The three artifacts are currently on display in theAfghan National Museum.Contents[hide] 1The inscriptions 2See also 3Footnotes 4References 5External linksThe inscriptions[edit]Here are translations of the inscriptions from Surkh Kotal by J. Harmatta. They were originally in theBactrian languageand written in Greek script. For possible interpretations of their meanings, see Harmatta's article.:[2]The "unfinished inscription" (SK2) has been translated as:"Era-year 299, on the 9th [day] of [month] Dios, King of Kings Oomo Takpiso, the majesty, the Kua, had the canal d[ug here]."Unfortunately, the fragments of an inscription from the period of Kanishka's reign contain only about one fifth (124 letters altogether) of the original inscription. They have been translated as:the lord, K[ing of Kings], the mighty Kaneko . . .][in the] first [era ye]ar T [an officer of the king] c[ame] here.Then [this stronghold and the sanctuary] were built by him in four years.[And] when the st[rongho]ld was com[pleted, then this fa]ade [and] the stairs l[eading th]ere [were built by him. Moreover, the canal was wh]olly bu[tressed with stones so that p[ure water was [provid]ed [by him in the can]al for the ab[ode of the gods. Thus he] to[ook care of the sanctuary].[Moreover, this stronghold and the canal were built by So-and-So by the order of the king]. Then So-and-So inscribed this faade and the stairs leading there.The text of SK 4 (A, B, M) runs:This stronghold is the 'Kaneko' Oanindo sanctuary which the lord king made the namebearer of Kaneko.At that time when the stronghold was first completed, then its inner water to drink was missing, therefore the stronghold was without water. And when the water-flow disappeared from the canal, then the gods wished themselves away from the abode. Then they were led to Lrafo, [namely] to Andzo. Afterwards the stronghold became abandoned.Then, when Nokonzoko, thekaralrango, the king's favourite who is much devoted towards the king, Son of God, the patron, the benefactor, the merciful as well, who wishes glory, all-winning strength from pure hearrt, came here to the sanctuary in the 31st Era-year, in the monthNsn, then he took care of the stronghold. Then he had a well dug, thus he provided water. Thereafter he buttressed [the well] with stones so that the fine, pure water should not be missing for the stronghold. And when for them the water-flow would disappear from the canal, even then the gods, should not wish themselves away from their abode, thus the stronghold should not become abandoned for them.Moreover, he appointed an inspector over the well, he placed a helper there, so that a separate [inspector] took good care of the well and a separate inspecto of the whole stronghold.Moreover, this well and the faade were made by Xirgomano, thekaralrango, by the order of the king. [B: Moreover, this well was made by Borzomioro, son of Kozgako, citizen of Hastilogan, attendant of Nokonziko, the karalrango, by order of the king.]Moreover, Eiiomano inscribed [this] together with Mihramano, the son of Bozomihro [Device 5] jointly [Device 2]. (A: Device 1 jointly, Device 2, B: Liiago, Device 3, Adego, Device 4).