Editing Sirkap (section)

==Greek city==
[[File:Demetrius I of Bactria.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Greco-Bactrian]] king [[Demetrius I of Bactria|Demetrius]] (r.c. 200–180 BC), founder of Sirkap.]]
[[File:IndoGreekArtifactsDrawings.JPG|thumb|300px|Main archaeological artifacts from the Indo-Greek strata at [[Taxila]]. From top, left:
*Fluted vase with bead and reel design (Bhir Mound, stratum 1)
*Cup with rosace and decorative scroll (Bhir Mound, stratum 1)
*[[Stone palette]] with individual on a couch being crowned by standing woman, and served (Sirkap, stratum 5)
*Handle with double depiction of a philosopher (Sirkap, stratum 5/4)
*Woman with smile (Sirkap, stratum 5)
*Man with moustache (Sirkap, stratum 5)
(Source: [[John Marshall (archaeologist)|John Marshall]] "Taxila, Archaeological excavations").]]
The site of Sirkap was built according to the "[[Hippodamian]]" grid-plan characteristic of Greek cities. It is organized around one main avenue and fifteen perpendicular streets, covering a surface of around {{convert|1200|x|400|m|sp=us}}, with a surrounding wall {{convert|5|-|7|m|sp=us}} wide and {{convert|4.8|km|sp=us}} long. The ruins are Greek in character, similar to those of [[Olynthus]] in [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]].

Numerous Hellenistic artifacts have been found, in particular coins of Greco-Bactrian kings and stone palettes representing Greek mythological scenes. Some of them are purely Hellenistic, others indicate an evolution of the [[Greco-Bactrian]] styles found at [[Ai-Khanoum]] towards more indianized styles. For example, accessories such as Indian ankle bracelets can be found on some representations of Greek mythological figures such as [[Artemis]].

Following its construction by the Greeks, the city was further rebuilt during the incursions of the [[Indo-Scythians]], and later by the [[Indo-Parthians]] after an earthquake in 30 AD. [[Gondophares]], the first king of the [[Indo-Parthian Kingdom]], built parts of the city including the double headed eagle stupa and the temple of the sun god. The city was overtaken by the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] kings who abandoned it and built a new city at [[Sirsukh]], about {{convert|1.5|km|abbr=on}} to the north-east.

<gallery widths="150px" heights="150px" perrow="4">
File:NereidAndKetos.JPG|A [[Nereid]] riding a [[Ketos]] sea-monster, stone palette, Sirkap, 2nd century BC.
File:Sirkap Harpocrates Late Hellenistic.jpg|[[Harpocrates]], Late Hellenistic, Sirkap.
File:Head of Dyonisus Sirkap.jpg|Head of [[Dionysus]], Sirkap
File:Frontal Dionysus Sirkap.jpg|Dionysus, Sirkap.
File:Couple from Taxila IV.jpg|Statue of a [[Hellenistic]] couple, Sirkap.
</gallery>