Sirkap

Name of site: Sirkup

Location: TaxiIla

Date of construction: 1st-2nd century AD

The most impressive of the three cities of ancient Taxila is Sirkup. The city of Sirkap was built by the Greco- Bactrian king Demetrius around 180 BC. Demetrius founded an Indo-Greek kingdom that was to last until around 10 BC. Sirkap is also said to have been rebuilt by king Menander. The excavation of the old city was carried out under the supervision of British archaeologist Sir John Marshall by Hergrew from 1912–1930. In 1944 and 1945 and later in some parts by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and his colleagues. The excavation carried out at Sirkap taken back to the Indo Scythian and Indo Parthian periods (1st-2nd century AD). The site contains several temples, shrines and a possible university where students used to come from different parts of the world.

The site of Sirkap was built according to the ” Hippodamian” grid-plan practiced in ancient Greek cities of Miletus, Priene etc. It is organized around one main avenue and fifteen perpendicular streets, covering a surface of around 3,900 ft × 1,300 ft, with a surrounding wall 16–23 ft wide and 3.0 mi long.

Numerous Hellenistic artifacts have been found, in particular coins of Greco-Bactrian kings and stone palettes representing Greek mythological scenes. Some of them are purely Hellenistic, others indicate an evolution of the Greco-Bactrian towards more local Indus valley styles. This is evident from the variety of jewelry found at site.

Following its construction by the Greeks, the city was further rebuilt during the incursions of the Indo Scythians, and later by the Indo Parthians after an earthquake in 30 AD. Gondophares, the first king of the Indo-Parthian kingdom, built parts of the city including the double headed eagle stupa and the temple of the sun god. The city was overtaken by the Kushan kings who abandoned it and built a new city at about one mile to the north-east.

Sirkup/Taxila being a provincial seat, was center of great learning. It was a university town with lecture halls and residential quarters. At Taxila the preceptor housed his own pupils, who paid for their bord and lodging in cash or in form of service to the teacher and his family. The Buddhist monasteries also catered the needs of the students and monks.