Gandhara als cultureel kruispunt: interactie tussen de mediterrane wereld en de Indusvallei

Abstract

This article presents a case study from the archaeological record of the city of Taxila (current Pakistan) in order to examine cultural interactions between the ancient Mediterranean and Indus Valley as evident from the Gandhara region. Taxila was a cultural crossroad between East and West and is especially famous for its Greco-Buddhist artefacts. These objects have traditionally been categorised in ethnic and/or cultural terms, which has led to incorrect interpretations of the archaeological record and its historical implications. For this reason, this study works towards a more comprehensive insight into the available archaeological data by means of new object analyses with the aim to contribute to a better understanding of how cultural diversity developed in the ancient world on a global scale through processes of cultural contact and interaction.