Ancient Buddhist Temple Unearthed in Pakistan Is One of The Oldest Ever Discovered

[Erroroverload]

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief and Greek art.


Archaeologists think that the temple dates from about the middle of the second century BCE, at a time when Gandhara was ruled by the Indo-Greek kingdom of northern India, and that it was built above an earlier Buddhist temple that may have dated from as early as the third century BCE.

That means people would have built the older temple within a few hundred years of the death of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in what is now northern India and Nepal between about 563 BCE and 483 BCE.

The excavated remains of the temple found so far, near the center of the modern town of Barikot, are over 10 feet (3 meters) tall and consist of a ceremonial platform topped by a cylindrical structure that housed a conical or dome-shaped Buddhist monument called a stupa.

Ancient Buddhist Temple Unearthed in Pakistan Is One of The Oldest Ever Discovered

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief...

www.sciencealert.com

 

[Maula Jatt]

Ancient Pakistan was a Buddhist powerhouse
If certain KP minister is correct
We are the only country in the world with 3-4 buddha teeth in our museum,

The whole ptotohar and KP area is very rich in ancient history

We gifted one to Japan but countries like Sri Lanka with one buddha tooth make a lot of money from Buddhist relgious tourism

 

[peagle]

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief and Greek art.


Archaeologists think that the temple dates from about the middle of the second century BCE, at a time when Gandhara was ruled by the Indo-Greek kingdom of northern India, and that it was built above an earlier Buddhist temple that may have dated from as early as the third century BCE.

That means people would have built the older temple within a few hundred years of the death of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in what is now northern India and Nepal between about 563 BCE and 483 BCE.

The excavated remains of the temple found so far, near the center of the modern town of Barikot, are over 10 feet (3 meters) tall and consist of a ceremonial platform topped by a cylindrical structure that housed a conical or dome-shaped Buddhist monument called a stupa.View attachment 812991

Ancient Buddhist Temple Unearthed in Pakistan Is One of The Oldest Ever Discovered

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief...

www.sciencealert.com

I would recommend that everyone read the full article, the full story is a lot more interesting.
Pakistan truly has a rich history, like non other.



@Sainthood 101
When did we gift one to Japan?
What a strange thing to do.

 

[MajesticPug]

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief and Greek art.


Archaeologists think that the temple dates from about the middle of the second century BCE, at a time when Gandhara was ruled by the Indo-Greek kingdom of northern India, and that it was built above an earlier Buddhist temple that may have dated from as early as the third century BCE.

That means people would have built the older temple within a few hundred years of the death of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in what is now northern India and Nepal between about 563 BCE and 483 BCE.

The excavated remains of the temple found so far, near the center of the modern town of Barikot, are over 10 feet (3 meters) tall and consist of a ceremonial platform topped by a cylindrical structure that housed a conical or dome-shaped Buddhist monument called a stupa.View attachment 812991

Ancient Buddhist Temple Unearthed in Pakistan Is One of The Oldest Ever Discovered

An ancient temple dating from the early centuries of Buddhism has been unearthed in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan – part of the ancient Gandhara region that was conquered by Alexander the Great and gave rise to a mixing of Buddhist belief...

www.sciencealert.com

I'd assume Pakistan will make this into a museum and/or tourist attraction and will not destroy it like the Taliban in Afghanistan. But is there a lot of Islam fundamentalists in Pak that could make a lot of noises? Does the constitution protect freedom of worshipping in Pakistan?

 

[Rafi]

I'd assume Pakistan will make this into a museum and/or tourist attraction and will not destroy it like the Taliban in Afghanistan. But is there a lot of Islam fundamentalists in Pak that could make a lot of noises? Does the constitution protect freedom of worshipping in Pakistan?

It's our heritage sonny.

 

[Maula Jatt]

I'd assume Pakistan will make this into a museum and/or tourist attraction and will not destroy it like the Taliban in Afghanistan. But is there a lot of Islam fundamentalists in Pak that could make a lot of noises? Does the constitution protect freedom of worshipping in Pakistan?

we are not Taliban mate...
infact we actively want to attract tourism to share our rich heritage, especially Buddhist history

Buddhist monks visiting Pakistan from Sri Lanka experience Gandhara’s magnificence

JAULIAN/HARIPUR: A 14-member delegation of visiting Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka said on Thursday that Pakistan was home to one of the most exotic Buddhist civilizations of the past, and hoped other followers of their faith would explore the prolific religious heritage in the country. Led by...

www.arabnews.pk