History Lesson

Hi Hi!
Sorry for my tardiness in posting--way to let me hear about it, people, I love it.
So, here are some photos from the area of Taxila, the most important archeological site in Pakistan. (Please see link at right for all kinds of info on Taxila--Mac-istan IT does not miss a beat!)


So, first one is the ruins of Bhir Mound, a large city that was part of the Persian empire, and dates all the the way back to the 6th and 7th centuries BCE (before the common era); Alexander the Great hung out here in the 4th century. The Taxila museum is really beautiful, and had relics from Bhir Mound, including intricate keys for locks, surgical instruments, lovely jewelry, scales, coins, etc. Just amazing how unimaginably long ago that was, and they used the same things we still use every day.

Some time around 300 BCE, Buddhist monks settled in the city, and set up a monastery called Dharmarajika monastery around 270 BCE. Dharmarajika means 'the tomb of the real lord', because the large stupa I'm in front of used to conatain relics of Buddha. (A stupa is a funeral mound, usually associated with the death and nirvana of Buddha.)

The third photo is at Sirkap (the other major city after Bhir Mound), established around 200BCE. You are looking at the Double-Headed Eagle Stupa. That's right, I said Double-Headed Eagle Stupa. Sirkap is HUGE, and laid out like a grid, with wide streets, shops, sun temples, etc.

I think the most tourists here are from Japan, who come to see the Buddhas and the monasteries. The other two photos are from a monastery that is a hike up from the regular grounds. It was established more recently, year 80 CE. At left is a votive stupa with great detail of little atlantes and other figures, and me zenning with a headless buddha.
Ok, good attention, you may go to recess.
See you guys soon. I'll be back in the states Wednesday night.
I'll post more before then--I have to get out all vestiges of blather before the blog is over!