Buddha Statue Uncovered in an Egyptian Port City Sheds Light on Trade Between Ancient Rome and India

A Buddha statue was discovered by archaeologists in the ancient Egyptian port city Berenike, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed in a declaration recently.

Not just does the statue– made from Mediterranean marble– shed higher light on trade in between ancient Rome and India, it likewise is the very first Buddha discovered west of Afghanistan, according to the New York City Review of Books

A joint Polish-American historical group, lead by historian Steven Sidebotham of the University of Delaware and archaeologist Mariusz Gwiazda of the University of Warsaw, revealed the statue throughout excavation operate in the city’s ancient temple.

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At 28 inches or a little over 2 feet high, the statue illustrates Buddha standing and holding part of his bathrobes in his left hand. There is a halo with sun rays around his head and a lotus flower at his side. Scientists think it was made in Alexandria around the 2nd century.

The group likewise discovered a Sanskrit engraving dating to the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Julius Philippus, who came from contemporary Syria and was called Phillip the Arab (244– 49 CE), in addition to 2 coins from the middle Indian Kingdom of Satavahana dating to the 2nd century CE.

These finds show higher connection than formerly understood in between Ancient Rome, Egypt, and India. Due to its main place along Roman trade paths, Egypt functioned as an entrance in between the Roman Empire and its ancient equivalents.

Berenike, which was established in the 3rd century BCE, turned into one of the biggest ports in Egypt under Roman guideline up until it was deserted in the 6th century CE. In its prime time, the city functioned as a center for the trade of such items as ivory, fabrics, and semi-precious metals.