ANCIENT GREEK CITIES IN PUNJAB

In antiquity, modern-day Punjab was called Pentapotamia ( Five Rivers, in Greek. ) A large number of Greek cities were built there- the oldest of them was Dionysopolis, built by Greek God Dionysos. Dionysos had done a campaign to India prior to Heracles and Alexander the Great ,followed by Thracian and Macedonian warriors.
Dionysos conquered India and the entire Asian continent 6451 years before Alexander. 

Dionysus on a chariot drawn by tigers- the animals tied to the chariot signify his conquest of India.

THE GREEK COMMUNITY OF UZBEKISTAN

Greeks have been in Central Asia since Alexander and his armies marched through in the 3rd century BCΕ. Indeed many blue-eyed people you meet in the region will claim their ancestry from his soldiers.

However, it was in the 15th century, following the fall of Constantinople and the marriage of Greek Princess Sophia to Tsar Ivan III of Russia, that a steady migration of Greeks to Russia began. The religious and cultural ties were strong.

After Catherine the Great's armies reached the Black Sea and founded the city of Odessa, many Greeks settled there; before the Russian Revolution there were over 500,000 Greeks living in Tsarist Russia.

Prior to WWII about 30,000 Greeks lived in Uzbekistan, most forcibly sent there by Stalin. Another 11,000 settled in Tashkent as political refugees following the Greek Civil War (1946 - 1949). Many Greeks worked on the Golodnaya Steppe (also known as the Hungry Steppe). Begun in 1956, this was a Soviet agricultural project on a grand scale, to cultivate the naturally saline virgin lands, an area of 10,000 square kilometres in Eastern Uzbekistan, about 160 kilometres from Tashkent.
By 1960 there were 12 Greek neighbourhoods in Tashkent and two in Chirchiq. Greek was taught in local schools and a cultural centre established to preserve traditions, customs and language. They played a significant role in Tashkent's cultural, economic and political life.

The Soviet Union actively supported the Greek Communist Party within its borders and performers such as composer and musician Mikis Theodorakis regularly visited Tashkent.


In 1982 the Greek government passed an Amnesty Law permitting the return and repatriation of the political refugees who had left Greece during the civil war. Many returned to their homeland. Others, however, had married and created a life for themselves in Uzbekistan and elected to stay. After Uzbekistan became an independent nation, further repatriations followed.
Today there are about 6,000 Greeks in Uzbekistan. The Greek Cultural Association organises Greek classes, dancing and other traditional activities. Supported by the Greek Government, each summer it sends around 30 school children to Greece for a one-month stay and a small group of Uzbek-Greek pensioners visit their homeland.

The Greek Cultural Association is located at 30 A Yusuf-Hos-Hodgib Street 100031, Tashkent. Telephone: 998 971 256-28-03. It is not far from the Applied Arts Museum
Source ~ http://www.uzbekjourneys.com/

UZBEKISTAN ~ TASHKENT ~ GREEK CULTURE ASSOCIATION

The ancient history of the Greeks in Uzbekistan is associated with the occurrence of Alexander the Great in the East. But with the entry of southern regions of the country in the state of the Seleucids, Greco-Bactrian and the Kushan Empire, a new artistic culture arose—the Eastern Hellenism, the synthesis of Hellenistic and local traditions.

However, the history of the Greeks living in Uzbekistan is stipulated by the events of the Second World War and first post-war years. The sons of ancient Hellas arrived in Uzbekistan and fought against fascism for the freedom of its people, and in 1964 in they created the Tashkent City Association of Greek Political Refugees. By the decision of Diaspora on March 4, 1997 it was reorganized to the Tashkent City Association of Greek Culture. Since then and until now—as the testament of fathers and grandfathers—within the bounds of the association of culture, the relay race on preservation of native language and traditions is continued.
Today, in the building of the Cultural Center, built in the 1960s by the collective method of khashar, one can find different clubs:the club of Greek language, which is popular among people of different nationalities and of all ages; the club of  bouzouki and guitar; the club of traditional Greek cuisine; the club of drawing. Moreover. there is also the dancing ensemble 'Sirtaki',with the support of the master of painting of Uzbekistan Janis Salpinkidi and his pupils. Its repertoire includes both many Greek folk dances—sirtaki, Kalamantianos, kochari, zeimbekiko, as well as dances from other countries, including  Uzbekistan; dances from all the regions of the country are taught here. International team “Sirtaki”, the laureate of the republican festival of friendship and culture “Uzbekistan is our common home”, is the indispensable participant of all state and national holidays.

The traditions of the association include joint celebration of Independence Day of Uzbekistan and Greece, the Day of “Okhi!”—Greek “No!” to fascism, the orthodox Easter and Christmas with other national cultural centers.
Regular meetings with the elders of the Diaspora have become a  special event. They share the memories of their glorious past labor: the development of the Hungry steppe, the construction of the stadium “Pahtakor”, housing estate Chilanzar, and other objects. The Greeks of the Diaspora are proud of the high appreciation shown for their creative work by the Uzbek people, and they are thankful for the hospitality and brotherly help.



The inspired work of the Tashkent Greek Culture Association, popularly called as the Club of fiery hearts of the descendants of the Hellenes, the heart and soul of all the Uzbekistan Greeks is a good example of careful conservation of cultural heritage of the diaspora in Uzbekistan.
Source ~ http://interkomitet.uz

MALANA ~ THE LITTLE GREECE OF THE HIMALAYAS

Malana is an ancient village in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It's located 2,652 metres above sea level, greatly isolated from the rest of the world. Its people have created a culture of their own, preserving it with consistency.


Malana is thought to be one of the oldest democracies in the world, with a well organized parliamentary system. Malanis claim their origins from soldiers of Alexander the Great, who sought refuge on the isolated peaks and finally settled there-that is the reason why Malana is also called Little Greece. The architecture featured on the Malani homes and temples resembles the architecture of Greek villages.
Their language, Kanashi, does not have a similarity with any of the dialects of nearby communities- it is also not allowed to be used with outsiders, as it is considered sacred. 
The Malanis worship a deity called Jamlu Devta- his will is passed to the people through a council and his wishes are never questioned. 

This village is also well known for its strict taboos- strangers are not allowed to touch anything or anyone within Malana. If they do so, they pay a fine and are immediately expelled from the village.
Another essential part of their culture is festivals, which are celebrated throughout the year. 

ATTAN DANCE ~ WAR DANCE FOR THE GODDESS ATHENA IN CENTRAL ASIA

According to the Greek Religion, Athena was born out of Zeus' head, with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.She came to this world with a fierce battle cry, which shook the Earth and the Skies.Even the Sun stopped His course on the sky to admire the Warrior Goddess.

Revered by the ancient Greeks as the Goddess of both war and intellect, Athena is the Protector of heroes and all those who embark on brave achievements.To celebrate Her during festivals dedicated to Her worship, Athenians would perform the Pyrrhic dance. This was an inter-tribal athletic competition at the Panathenaia festival, performed by young Athenian men in armour. According to Roger Dunkle, a Professor of Greek Mythology in the Classics Department at Brooklyn College, the dancers, in a kind of ballet, would emulate offensive and defensive movements derived from warfare. The dance is said to have been first performed by Athena Herself in a celebration of Her fellow Olympians' epic victory over the Giants. This dance, and other athletic events from the Panathenaia Festival basically continued until Christianity came to Greece and eliminated a significant part of the Ancient Religious rituals. 

Greece

When Alexander the Great came to power after the assassination of hs father, Phillip of Macedonia, in 336 BCE, he saw himself as a second Achilles, destined to defeat 'barbarians'. He began by quelling Greek rebellions, and moved on against the Persians. Along the way, he conquered Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, before subduing Persia. He then went further and defeated Transoxania before reaching as far as the Indus River;his troops, exhausted by the constant battles, mutinied and Alexander had to turn back. During his journey back, en route to taking over Arabia, he fell ill and died.

Greece

Alexander's army consisted of over 30,000 Greek and Macedonian soldiers, each skilled with a Greek-style military training.

Alexander established new cities wherever he went; he is believed to have founded  over 70 cities. He appointed Greek men to every city he conquered, in order for them to govern and intermarry with the local population. His empire was called the Hellenistic Empire. After his death, the empire was divided into three Hellenistic kingdoms; Egypt, Bactria, and Macedonia/Greece.

Greece

During Alexanders' stay, and continued conflict with the people who would be later known as the Pashtuns, in the areas along the border of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, Greek soldiers mixed with some local Pashtun tribes.Modern-day Khattak and Ghilzai are the main tribes who claim their ancestry from the Greek soldiers who followed Alexander in his campaigns. Genetic studies have shown traces of Greek ancestry among some Pashtun tribes, confirming these claims.

Afghanistan

It also helps to clarify the origins of the Attan Dance. The dance itself is now an umbrella name for numerous variations of the dance, including the Kibali Attan, Wardaki, Logari, Paktia/Khosti, Kochyano/Kuchi, Kattak, and Nuristani styles.

The dance itself is believed to have originated from the Greek Pyrrhic dance, performed for the Greek Goddess Athena. The Khattak style is thought to be the closest version to the Pyrrhic dance.
According to VirtualAfghans.com, the Khattak style is as follows:
"..men performed this dance with their weapons in their hands. A Khattak dancer performs with the zeal of a hero, displaying his physical fitness through body movements, while holding one, two, or even three swords at a time. Each sword weighs about one-and-a-half kilograms. The dance is a 5-step routine involving spins, with the swords crossed over their backs and elbows outward, or it can be performed with the swords out the sides and typical Attan half-spin in place, while landing to a full spin. Depending on the rhythm of that beat, this spin can be completely reversed in full synchronicity. This dance is performed with the musician tuning the beat to the technique of the performers."

Today, the Attan dance is considered a traditional Afghan dance. It was accepted into the fold of Afghani-Islamic society during the rule of the Mughal Dynasty, when the dance was modified into a Muslim dance soldiers used to get 'closer to God' before they went on their missions. A concept that no doubt is attributable to Afghanistan's rich Sufi history.

Today, the Attan dance is often performed at large Pashtun functions, like wedding celebrations.This ancient Greek dance, one of the most important rituals of the Greek Religion lives on, within some of the most conservative communities in the world.

ANCIENT GREEK CITIES IN ARABIA

In Hellenic Religion, Arabos was the son of the Greek God Hermes and Thronia, hence the name of the Arabs. History has proven this kinship between Greeks and Arabs ; Arabia was filled with Greek cities, something which is also supported by historians such as Diodorus Sicilus and Nonnus.

GRECO~BUDDHISM

Greco-Buddhism is a cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE in the Indian sub-continent, especially in modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and the north-western border regions of modern India. It's a cultural consequence of a long chain of interactions begun by Greek forays into India from the time of Alexander the Great, carried further by the establishment of Indo-Greek rule in the area for some centuries, and extended during the flourishing of the Hellenized empire of the Kushans. Greco-Buddhism influenced the artistic and  spiritual development of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, which represents one of the two main branches of Buddhism. 

The Buddhist religious system was adopted in Central and Northeastern Asia, from the 1st century CE,spreading to China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

The Milinda Panha is the best known script about the early Greco-Buddhist times. The first anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha himself are often considered a result of the Greco-Buddhist interaction. Before this innovation, Buddhist art was "aniconic".   

THE GREEK WARRIOR OF BHARHUT ~ INDIA

During 100 BCE,the Greeks ,and more specifically the Indo-Greeks, were evidently known to people in the middle of India; one of the most famous archaeological evidence to this, is the Bharhut Yavana- the high relief of a Greek warrior, who has been coopted into the role of dvarapala. The evidence of his Greek origin includes his hairstyle, tunic, and boots. In his right hand he holds a grape plant, emblematic of his origin. The sheath of his broadsword is decorated with a nandipada. 

THE INSCRIPTION

 Inscription 55 in the Pillars of Railing of the SW Quadrant at Bharhut. The inscription at the top, classified as Inscription 55 in the Pillars of Railing of the SW Quadrant at Bharhut, is in the Brahmi script and reads from left to right: "Bhadanta Mahilasa thabho dânam" "Pillar-gift of the lay brother Mahila."

Source: Wikipedia

GANDHARA, THE RENAISSANCE OF BUDDHISM ( VIDEO )

This film shows the interaction between the Greco- Bactrian cultures and the Indian cultures represented by Buddhism.We see  how this led to the creation of the first statues of Buddha and how this fusion led to a truly cosmopolitan culture which stood at the centre of the spread of Buddhism.
The narrative is in English, but some interviews in other languages aren't subtitled. However, the locations and historical images are very interesting and worth seeing.

MAHADHARMARAKSITA ~ THE GREEK PROTECTOR OF THE DHARMA

Mahadhammarakkhita (Sanskrit: Mahadharmaraksita, literally "Great protector of the Dharma") was a Greek (in Pali:"Yona", lit. "Ionian") Buddhist master, who lived during the 2nd century BCE, during the reign of the Indo-Greek king Menander.

In the Mahavamsa, a key Pali historical text, he is recorded as having travelled from “Alasandra” (thought to be Alexandria of the Caucasus, around 150 kilometers north of today's Kabul, or possibly Alexandria of the Arachosians), with 30,000 monks  for the dedication ceremony of the Maha Thupa ("Great stupa") at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, when it was completed shortly after the death of the Sri Lankan king Dutthagamani Abhaya (r. 161 - 137 BCE).
The Mahamvasa lists the congregations that visited Sri Lanka for the dedication of the Maha Thupa, explaining that:

"From Alasanda the city of the Yonas came the thera (elder) Yona Mahadhammarakkhita with thirty thousand bhikkhus." (Mahavamsa, XXIX)

This reference says a lot about the role of the Greeks in the Buddhist community of that era;Alexandria of the Caucasus or Alexandria of the Arachosians, cities under the control of the Greek king Menander, had a Buddhist monk population of possibly as many as 30,000, indicating a flourishing Buddhist culture under the Greeks.
The head of this Buddhist community was a Greek (Yona) Buddhist elder whose religious name was Mahadhammarakkhita ("Great protector of the Dharma), a fact that illustrates the involvement of Greeks in the development of the Buddhist faith, in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.
They were able to travel freely south as far as Sri Lanka; this is probably evidence of some political stability along the west coast of the Indian subcontinent. It should be noted that during that time, the Shunga Empire was persecuting Buddhists in the East.
It is also separately established through another text, the Milinda Panha, and archeological evidence, that Menander himself ruled a vast empire in northern India, and that he became a Buddhist arhat. According to Buddhist tradition, he was a great benefactor of the Buddhist faith, along with Ashoka or the Kushan Kanishka.

PAKOL - THE GREEK KAUSIA WHICH REACHED CENTRAL ASIA

The kausia (Ancient Greek: καυσία ) was an ancient Greek  flat hat.
It was worn during the Hellenistic period but perhaps even before the time of Alexander the Great, and was later used as a protection against the sun.

Depictions of the kausia can be found on a variety of coins and statues found from the Mediterranean to the Greco-Bactrian kingdom and the Indo-Greeks in northwestern India. The Persians referred to the Macedonians as Yaunã Takabara or "Greeks ('Ionians') with hats that look like shields", possibly referring to the Macedonian kausia hat.

In Greece, we find statuettes and mosaics of the 5th and 4th c. BCE, in which the depicted people wear the kausia. Also, Alexander the Great has also been depicted  wearing the kausia.

A modern descendant of the hat is the pakol in Asia and the beret in Europe.

GRECO~BUDDHISM ~ THE UNKNOWN INFLUENCE OF THE GREEKS

At the time of Alexander the Great, Greeks conquered a large part of Asia, from Asia Minor to modern- day Afghanistan, Pakistan and the north east of India. Greek influence continued after Alexander´s death as a number of Greek Kingdoms were founded in Asia.

During this time of Greek influence in the region, a mix between Greek and Buddhist faith was adopted by Greeks and locals. Alexander the Great and his descendants never tried to impose the Greek Faith or culture by violence. They intervened only in cases when they would consider the local customs as brutal or uncivilised. Buddhism coexisted  in this context as well, and its followers never tried to dominate over the local culture of each area. Buddhism pointed out any negative local practices  and encouraged the positive ones.

In this environment of acceptance and mutual respect, Greco-Buddhism flourished. The teachings of Buddhism remained the same, because they refer to the human condition which is of interest to all, regardless of their cultural background. The Greeks probably saw Buddhism as noble, familiar to their own philosophy of life and embraced it.

When Alexander the Great arrived in central Asia, Buddhist monks were already active in the region. At that time, Greeks were referred to as the Yonas (originating from the Greek word for Ionians, one of the four major Greek tribes; others being the Aeolians, Achaians and Dorians). Buddhism was well-received and spread quite rapidly among the Greeks of Alexandria on the Caucasus and Taxila, to the point that in Asoka’s time these cities were considered as main Buddhist centers. Greco-Buddhism did not take over 100%, as  the traditional Hellenic religion still had a significant number of followers.

In the Mahavamsa, a chronicle dedicated to the kings of Sri Lanka, the high monk present in the devotion of the high Stupa ( a hemispherical structure containing relics and used as a place of meditation) was a Yona (Greek) monk called Mahadhammarakkhita who brought 30,000 Greek monks from Alexandria of the Caucasus to join him. A monk with the same name was sent north by Asoka to spread the rock edicts in the Greco-Bactrian lands. Also, according to the Mahavasma, early Buddhists in Sri Lanka went to Alexandria of the Caucasus to learn more about Buddhism.

Evidence of Buddhist expansion during the Indo-Greek period (starting in 180 BCE) comes from coins;also, we see a significant number of Stupas built during that period and statues depicting the Buddha, often accompanied by Greek Gods and Goddesses. In Greco-Buddhist culture and art, Greek Gods are considered as guardians to the Buddha or are represented as Devas accompanying Buddha during important events of his life.

The religion which was practiced by the Indo-Greeks who followed Buddhist philosophy but who continued to adhere to the Greek customs and cultures is known as Greco-Buddhism. Greco-Buddhism is a form of Hellenism which adapts Buddhism into itself, or a form of Buddhism that embraces the Hellenic culture. Greco-Buddhism can be seen in two ways. Firstly, as the cultural and religious syncretism between the Hellenic culture and Buddhism. On the other hand, it also corresponds to the adoption of the Buddhist philosophy by a person with a Hellenic background.

The ancient Greek belief system did not prevent people from learning a new philosophy or worshiping a God unknown to the Greek pantheon, if they were to go to a different country. However, the Greeks would adhere to a set of rules and customs. As Buddhism became more and more integrated into the life of the Indo-Greeks, some Greek Gods like Heracles and Tyche were seen as guardians of the Buddha and thus, guardian Gods of Buddhism.

 Greco-Buddhism gave a human form to Buddha through statues based on a Greek style. Before any such statues were made, the Buddha was symbolised by the Dharma Wheel or a Stupa. Also, Greco-Buddhism is said to have paved the way for the propagation of Mahayana Buddhisms (one of the two main branches of Buddhism; the other being Theravada) to China and Japan.

A number of Greek Gods formed part of Greco-Buddhism. Most of these deities were considered as protectors of Buddha. Such deities include Hercules (ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ; syncretized with Vajrapani), Tyche ( ΤΥΧΗ, syncretized with Hariti), Zeus (ΖΕΥΣ; associated with Indra), Boreas (ΒΟΡΕΑΣ; the wind god) and Athena ( ΑΘΗΝΑ).

However,the Buddhist Greeks were still Greeks and definitely wanted to honour and venerate the Gods of Greece. The Greeks presumably considered that from a Buddhist/Greek context that honouring the Gods is a form of sowing good and that offering to the Gods secured a reciprocal relationship with the Gods.

DIONYSIAN RITUALS ~ PHALLIC PROSCESSIONS GREECE ~ INDIA ~ JAPAN

Phallic processions, or Penis Parade,called "phallika" in ancient Greece, were a common feature of Dionysiac celebrations; they were processions that advanced to a cult center, and were characterized by obscenities and verbal teasing.

 The display of a fetishized phallus was a common feature. In his Poetics, Aristotle hypothesizes that the earliest forms of comedy originated and evolved from "those who lead off the phallic processions", which were still common in many towns at his time.

The main purpose of these processions was to celebrate fertility and the eternal process of creation in Nature.Moreover, obscenities and the exhibition of phalluses were  thought to drive bad luck away and ensure good crops, health and wealth.


The city of Tyrnavos in Greece still holds an annual Phallus festival, a traditional phallophoric event towards the end of the Greek Carnival ( Apokries ). 

Similar parades of Shinto origin have long been carried out in Japan. Although the practice has been mostly eradicated in Japan, a few, such as Kawasaki's Kanamara Matsuri and Komaki's Hōnen Matsuri continue to this day. The striking similarities between the two kinds of celebrations can make us think about potential influences of the Dionysian cult, as it was transmitted to Asia via Alexander the Great and the following kingdoms.

HELIODORUS PILLAR ~ VIDISHA~ INDIA

The pillar was erected around 113 BCE in central India  in Vidisha near modern Besnagar, by Heliodorus, an Indo-Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas in Taxila, to the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra. Historically, it is one of the earliest known inscriptions related to the Vaishnavism in India. 
The site is located about 60 kilometres northeast from Bhopal and 11 kilometres  from the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi.

The pillar was surmounted by a sculpture of Garuda and was dedicated by Heliodorus to the god Vāsudeva in front of the temple of Vāsudeva. According to Rawlinson, the colonial British era historian, locals called it the Khamba Baba or Khambaba.

The dedication on the pillar was made by Heliodorus, ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas .

GREEK HERITAGE IN ASIA

This blog was created for the promotion of the Greek Heritage in Asia. The Greeks did three major campaigns in India- led by   Dionysos, Heracles and Alexander the Great. The Greek God Dionysos was the first to campaign to India 7,500 years ago.