Ancient site · City
Ai-Khanoum
A Greek city on the Amu Darya (Oxus) in northern Afghanistan, probably founded by a Seleucid governor around 300–285 BCE and a centre of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom. French excavations from 1964 uncovered a palace, a gymnasium, a theatre for about 6,000 people, temples and Greek inscriptions, including moral maxims copied from Delphi.
It shows Greek culture flourishing in the heart of Asia. Saka invaders captured it around 145 BCE, and in recent decades the site has been badly looted.
- Dates
- c. 290–145 BCE
- Still standing
- No, or only traces
- Location
- 37.16° N, 69.41° E
How we know
Greek inscriptions found in the city, including Delphic maxims, date and describe it; its ancient name is unknown.
Nearby sites
- Shortugai c. 2000–1700 BCE
- Sarazm c. 3500–2000 BCE (radiocarbon range 3900–2100 BCE)
- Tillya Tepe graves c. 1st century BCE–1st century CE
- Takht-i-Bahi 1st–7th century CE
- Taxila c. 1000 BCE–5th century CE
- Burzahom c. 3000–1000 BCE