The Buddhist Art and Architecture of Taxila

Taxila, an ancient city in what is now Pakistan, stands out as the only major urban center in ancient India known to the Greeks, offering unparalleled insights into the region's architectural and cultural evolution. Extensive archaeological excavations have uncovered three successive city sites and numerous monuments, providing a rich tapestry of material that reflects the influence of foreign dynasties such as the Greeks, Bactrians, Scythians, Parthians, and Kushans. Notably, Taxila has yielded some of the earliest stucco sculptures in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent, showcasing its significance in the development of Buddhist art and architecture from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE. By analyzing architectural evidence, numismatic data, masonry systems, and structural remains, researchers have documented periodic patterns and established a clear sequence for the types of structures used in Gandhara and Taxila's sacred areas and monasteries. This city thrived as a center of Buddhist tradition and international trade, facilitating cultural exchange between India, China, and the Mediterranean.

Bhatti, M. I. (2023). The Buddhist Art and Architecture of Taxila. International Journal on Culture, History, and Religion, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.63931/ijchr.v5i1.16