Hindu, Buddhist, Greek and Islamic relics in Termez, Uzbekistan

 


Today whole Central Asia is predominantly Muslim (even if in some places quite secularly), but in ancient times the region was at the crossroads of different religions. A good collection of these different eras and cultural influences can be seen at the Archaeological Museum of Termez. The items on display include relics from the Greco-Bactrian and Kushan periods. The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was a Hellenistic-era Greek state, while Kushan emperors represented a wide variety of faiths including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Hindu Shaivism, contributing to an interesting cultural mix. 


There are also scale models of nearby archaeological sites from where these items came from. Some artifacts, such as the seated Buddha under the Bodhi tree or head of the Kushan prince are actually copies, but most of them are originals and they cover nicely these cultures. The exchibition ends with items of Islamic and Russian eras. There is a small coin and handicraft collection in the safe room, and I really liked the silver women's jewellery that reminded me of the work of my Bedouin friend in Egypt, Rahmat Hussein Abu Heb. 







































































































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