Alexander\'s palace in Bactra identified

[Jona Lendering]

The Achaemenid palace in Bactra (modern Balkh in N-Afghanistan) has been discovered. This is the place where Alexander spent the winter of 329/328, and where Bessus was sentenced to death (and probably crucified); it may have been the place where Alexander married Roxane in 327.

The article is here and I will post a translation tomorrow.

[Eleatic Guest]

Roxane..you don't have to put on the red light,
those days are over, some darn archaeologists hve discovered our site.

:wink:

[Jona Lendering]

Discovery of a historical site near Balkh

27 July 2006

Authorities declare that a Hellenistic site has been identified near Balkh, in the north of Afghanistan, and that it is about 2,000 years old.

The site, about 25 km from Mazar-e Sharif, at first sight looks like a ruin on a hill. Of what is called an ancient building, only the remains of a mud-brick wall survive. Due to natural causes and war, this building has collapsed and was covered by earth.

Said Reza Hosseini, archaeologist of the Agency for Information and Culture in Balkh, says that this site was identified by smugglers of antiquities. They have made great holes in the ruins.

Mr. Hosseini tells that the site became known before the looters could remove the stone base of a column, which was probably made in the Hellenistic Age.

Mr. Hosseini believes that, except for the column base, many objects of historical value can be discovered. The archaeologist believes that the site has been a fort guarding the entrance of Balkh, and assumes that it is more than 2,000 years old. He infers that the ruins in hill are of the same age.

The archaeologist is greatly worried about the ineffective measures to protect this historical site and stresses that the Afghan government must take precautions to ensure the safety of those working this important site.

[Text Haroon Najafizada; translation Sharona Asghari]

[Robert Vermaat]

Thanks Jona!

[Arthes]

How amazing.....
Is there anywhere that possibly lists, or even better, shows some of the artifacts from Alexander's period there.....?
I really hope they manage to preserve this site, without any more damage being done..

[Jona Lendering]

Until now, we only knew that in Herat ancient Greek coins were found, and there are famous walls from the Sassanid age. Now, a Greek fort has been identified. Achaemenid and pre-Achaemenid Bactra are still only known from literary sources, but the identification of "the city with many banners" or "the mother of all cities" (as Bactra is called in the Avesta) is now a step closer.