#oxus

Bactrian Princess, Statuette (ca. 2300–1700 BCE) This composite statuette belongs to the Oxus civilization that flourished across Central Asia during the late third and early second millennium BCE. Carved from contrasting chlorite and calcite, the figure wears a voluminous garment with puffed sleeves, signifying high status or divinity.

Oxus

The Oxus is a river, today called Amu Darya in its western part and Wakhsh in its eastern parts, which flows for a length of 2400 km across modern Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan into Lake Aral. In Ancient times it crossed the regions Fergana, Bactria, Oxeiana, Sogdiana and Khiva. The Oxus and the Iaxartes are called twin rivers, because of their same destination, almost similar trajectories and because they both are thankless rivers, naturally irrigating only very few areas through which they flow. However, like the Iaxartes, the Oxus allowed large-scale irrigation systems which was the main reason of its area's rich history. The Oxus was the nucleus of the successive Bactrian civilizations and kingdoms. The river was the borderline between the Persian satrapy of Sogdiana northward and Bactria southward, whereas the western part belongs to nomads. Several cities were founded here, mostly known under their Greek names, like Alexandreia Oxeiana (actual Termez). Alexander the Great came across the river three times between 329 and 327 BC. Later, the Eastern part of the Oxus was the nucleus of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, whereas the western part, especially the Khiva Oasis, was the land of the Parni, who later became the Parthians invading the Seleucid empire.

Retour à mon projet de présenter la plupart de mes 53880 photos (nouveau compte approximatif !)

2013. Le Louvre-Lens (collection permanente)

- rhyton avec pieuvre (à l’appui...) - Rhodes, 1375 avant J-C.

- “Goudéa, prince de Lagash” - Mésopotamie, 2120 avant J-C.

- Femme au kaunakès - Oxus, entre 2300 et 1700 avant J-C

- le démon Pazuzu - Assyrie, 800 avant J-C.

Retour à mon projet de présenter la plupart de mes 53880 photos (nouveau compte approximatif !)

2012. Le Louvre-Lens et sa magnifique Galerie du Temps : 

- Gudéa, prince de Lagash - Mésopotamie,  2120 av.J-C.

- roi-prêtre - Mésopotamie, 3300 av.J-C.

- Syros, 2500 av.J-C.

- archives de l'Eanna: rations alimentaires - Uruk, 3300 av.J-C.