Between mirage and “tangible grandeur”: Ai Khanoum, DAFA, and approaches to Baktrian Hellenism

Thesis

This thesis examines the Graeco-Baktrian site of Ai Khanoum through the lens of the French archaeological delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA), in order to define the context of their interpretations of the excavated evidence and demonstrate the far-reaching influence of those interpretations on the historiography of Hellenistic Central Asia. I suggest that attempting to understand the mindset and preconceptions of DAFA’s archaeologists before and during the excavations at Ai Khanoum can help in asking more useful questions from the site and the evidence.

Chapter 1 revisits the foundation of DAFA from the French and the Afghan perspectives, the role of the academic but also geopolitical environment, and the expectations for the delegation’s work in Afghanistan in the 1920s, with a focus on Alfred Foucher’s work at Baktra and elsewhere. Through this, it is established that a mould had already been formed in the shape of a ‘Greek city in Central Asia’ into which Ai Khanoum would immediately be made to fit, upon its discovery. The circumstances of the discovery and of the early prospections are also explored to further demonstrate the influence they had on the first impressions of the site, which from the moment of its uncovering was never going to treated neutrally.

Chapter 2 focuses on the archaeological reports published after each campaign, from 1964 to 1978, selecting specific examples and drawing out certain themes to show how the evidence was coloured by the preconceptions of the archaeologists and the expectations they and the authorities they answered to, had of the site. For instance, the Delphic maxims and the ‘Heroon of Kineas’ are examined in closer detail, revisiting the conclusions-proclamations of archaeologists like Louis Robert. His theories surrounding the northern Greek origins of Ai Khanoum’s settlers determined how Greek presence in Hellenistic Baktria has been understood for decades. Ideology is separated from the evidence to show where the French archaeologists based themselves for their conclusions and how close these were to the evidence on the ground.

Finally, Chapter 3 concentrates on the way certain parts of the evidence related to the brief reoccupation of the city after its end, around 145 BC, were used to draw wider conclusions about the history of Ai Khanoum and the story of Baktrian Hellenism more widely. Ai Khanoum was inserted into a narrative of ‘rise and fall’ in order to fit with the ancient sources’ recounting of Baktria’s nomadic conquest, as well as more modern secondary literature. It is shown that while there is evidence of violence surrounding the last stage of the city’s existence, a conclusive version of events cannot be established with certainty. Nonetheless, the notion of ‘rise and fall’ itself is analysed as a useful tool in understanding the lives of ancient cities and arguably emerges not as redundant as is currently thought.

Authors: Kalogeropoulos, X

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-aegodm1e6
• Type of award: MLitt
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Afghanistan; Bactrian archaeology; Délégation archéologique française en Afghanistan; French archaeology; DAFA; Graeco-Bactrian; Ai Khanoum
• Subjects: History, Ancient; Afghans; Archaeology; Historiography; French; Archaeology and history