Drawing on ancient historical writings, the vast array of information gleaned in recent years from the study of Hellenistic coins, and startling archaeological evidence newly unearthed in Afghanistan, Frank L. Holt sets out to rediscover the ancient civilization of Bactria. In a gripping narrative informed by the author’s deep knowledge of his subject, this book covers two centuries of Bactria’s history, from its colonization by remnants of Alexander the Great’s army to the kingdom’s collapse at the time of a devastating series of nomadic invasions. Beginning with the few tantalizing traces left behind when the ‘empire of a thousand cities’ vanished, Holt takes up that trail and follows the remarkable and sometimes perilous journey of rediscovery.
Lost World of the Ancient King describes how a single bit of evidence—a Greek coin—launched a search that drew explorers to the region occupied by the tumultuous warring tribes of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Afghanistan. Coin by coin, king by king, the history of Bactria was reconstructed using the emerging methodologies of numismatics. In the twentieth century, extraordinary ancient texts added to the evidence. Finally, one of the ‘thousand cities’ was discovered and excavated, revealing an opulent palace, treasury, temple, and other buildings. Though these great discoveries soon fell victim to the Afghan political crisis that continues today, this book provides a thrilling chronicle of the search for one of the world’s most enigmatic empires.
表中的内容
List of Illustrations
Preface
Introduction: A Lost Civilization
1. The Adventure Begins: Checklist Numismatics
2. A Dangerous Game: Framework Numismatics
3. The Gold Colossus: Novelty Numismatics
4. Telling Tales: Narrative Numismatics
5. Wanted—One Greek City: Archaeology
6. Letters Here and There: Epigraphy
7. A Perfect Storm: Rescue and Revisionist Numismatics
8. A New Beginning: Cognitive Numismatics I
9. Coins and the Collapse of Civilization: Cognitive Numismatics II
Conclusion: The Lost World of the Golden King
Notes
Select Bibliography
Illustration Credits
Index
关于作者
Frank L. Holt, Professor of History at the University of Houston, is the author of Into the Land of Bones, Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions, and Thundering Zeus, all published by UC Press.
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