From ptrourke@mediaone.net Sat Mar  3 14:18:17 2001
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From: "Patrick T. Rourke" <ptrourke@mediaone.net>
To: <classics@u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: Done Deed in Afghanistan
Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 17:17:39 -0500
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I have wanted to say something about this, but it's impossible to write the
words.  It's a barbaric act that will be cursed for thousands of years to
come.

> While much is made of the two standing Buddha figures being of enormous
size,
> little is mentioned about their truly unique feature: they are dressed
like
> ancient Greeks.  Afghanistan did see incursions by the ancient Greeks:
> notably Alexander (although this might be in dispute?).

The Hellenized kingdom of Bactria likely controlled this region at some
point.  Bactria was converted to Buddhism around the 3rd or 2nd century bce,
if I remember correctly.

[Shame that George Thompson is unsubscribed; he could have used this as an
opportunity to expand our horizons a bit]

Patrick Rourke
ptrourke@mediaone.net



.