Subscribe to download
Taxila / Sirkap, Pakistan, 500AD

Taxila / Sirkap, Pakistan, 500AD

Taxila was an important city of ancient India, situated on the eastern shore of the Indus River—the pivotal junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia; it was founded around 1000 BCE. Taxila has changed hands many times over the centuries, with many polities vying for its control, the University of ancient Taxila is considered by many to be one of the earliest universities in the world. When the great ancient trade routes connecting these regions ceased to be important, the city sank into insignificance and was finally destroyed in the 5th century by the invading Hunas.

The city of Sirkap was built by the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius after he invaded modern-day Pakistan around 180 BC. The city was built over the river, directly opposite the city of Taxila. Following its construction by the Greeks, the city was invaded and rebuilt by both the Scythians and then the Parthians. Building projects stopped after the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 30AD, what was left of Sirkap was then overtaken by the Kushan kings who abandoned it and built a new city nearby at Sirsukh