Mind-blowing artifact from the 2nd century BC, discovered in Ai-Khanoum, northern Afghanistan.

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Check out this mind-blowing artifact from the 2nd century BC, discovered in Ai-Khanoum, northern Afghanistan. This disk doesn’t just tell a story; it screams the bold artistic collision of ancient cultures right in your face. You’ve got Cybele, the fierce Anatolian goddess of nature, charging through in a lion-drawn chariot, flanked by Nike, the untouchable winged goddess of Victory, and Helios, the sun god himself, adorned with a halo that could blind you.

The Ai-Khanoum plaque | The Brain Chamber

The backdrop? A dramatic mountainous landscape peppered with celestial symbols that take this scene to another level, fusing Greek and Near Eastern artistry in a way that demands your attention.

Gilded Cybele Plaque. Ai Khanoum, Takhar Province. | ACKU PH๏τo Archive

Let’s not forget Ai-Khanoum, the bustling epicenter of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom during the 4th to 2nd centuries BC, where Greek ideals didn’t just mingle – they revolutionized local Bactrian and Persian influences. This disk is more than just a pretty face; it’s a testament to the city’s vital role as a cultural powerhouse, brilliantly illustrating the exhilarating blend of artistic traditions that defined the rich heritage of Ai-Khanoum.

Aï Khanoum (BALL-18) - Alexandria on the Oxus - Vici.org

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