Archaeologists have recently made a fascinating discovery in the ancient Egyptian port city of Berenike. They have found two artifacts, which raise questions about the extent and nature of ancient trade and cultural contact between India and Egypt.
First One: A small sandstone sculpture of the Buddha. (two-foot-tall) It is thought to date from the first or second century CE.
Second One: An inscription in Sanskrit on a stone slab, dated to the fourth or fifth century CE.
Archaeologists have uncovered a well-preserved statue of Buddha that dates back to the 1st or 2nd century CE. The statue, made of limestone, was found in a Roman-era building. Its presence raises questions about the connection between ancient India and the Roman Empire.
Buddha’s statue
The discovery of the Buddha’s statue is significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is the first time that a statue of the Buddha has been found in Egypt. This suggests that there was contact and trade between ancient India and Egypt. Secondly, the statue was found in a Roman-era building. This indicates that the Romans were involved in the trade of goods from India.
The Roman Empire was known for its vast trade network that spanned Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The discovery of the statue of Buddha at Berenike suggests that the Romans were also trading with India. The goods from India were making their way to the Mediterranean world as well.
Sanskrit Inscription
Archaeologists have made an intriguing discovery in Egypt – a Sanskrit inscription on a stone slab. The inscription, dated to the fourth or fifth century CE, contains several lines of poetry dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is signed by a man named Bhanuka. The slab was found in a building believed to have been a temple or shrine. This has raised the possibility that there were Hindu temples in Egypt during the late ancient period.
This finding suggests that there may have been an Indian community living in Egypt. It points that at least Indian traders visiting the city regularly. The discovery of a Hindu temple in Egypt would be a remarkable find. It could change the understanding of the spread of Hinduism beyond India and Southeast Asia.
In 1999, for example, archaeologists uncovered a jar filled with 17 pounds of black peppercorns embedded in the courtyard floor of a Berenike temple, as the University of Delaware Research magazine’s Ann Manser wrote in 2011. They dated to the first century, and at that time they were only grown in southwestern India.
The recent discoveries show temple model structure in Berenike. Researchers conclues it might be temple in ancient days. There also found Shatavahana times coin when digging. The discoveries highlight the importance of continuing archaeological research to further explore and discover the extent of cultural exchange and the interconnectedness of ancient cultures.