The Manhai pillar capital is the portion of an ancient

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

found in the city of Manhai (also spelled Mainhai), one and half miles to the east of the eastern gateway of

Kausambi Kosambi (Pali) or Kaushambi (Sanskrit) was an important city in ancient India. It was the capital of the Vatsa kingdom, one of the sixteen mahajanapadas. It was located on the Yamuna River about southwest of its confluence with the Ganges at ...

, Uttar Pradesh in India, and published in 1980 in "''Reh Inscription of Menander And The Indo-greek Invasion Of The Ganga Valley''" by

G. R. Sharma Govardhan Rai Sharma (1919-1986) was a Historian from Allahabad University who led the Kausambi excavations which added to original historical research in the country. The ruins of this ancient city were found on the left bank of the river Yamuna, ...

.Reh Inscription Of Menander And The Indo-greek Invasion Of The Ganga Valley, by Sharma, G.R., 198
pp 22-24
/ref> The fragmentary stone-slab is displayed in the Museum of the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology, University of Allahabad.Śālabhañjikā in art, philosophy, and literature, Udaya Nārāyaṇa Rāya, Lokbharti Publications, 1979, p.44

Analysis

Hellenistic style

According to Allahabad University historian

, the Manhai pillar capital displays realistic depictions of animals and architectural styles, particularly floral designs, which are characteristic of Hellenistic art. He suggests that the capital can only have been made by a Greek artist, working for the Indo-Greek ruler Menander I, whose campaigns brought him to central and eastern India. Shamal suggests that the Manhai pillar capital is one additional element proving the presence of Menander in

circa 160 BCE.

Double-humped camel of Menander

Menander I coin with double-humped camel

The motifs in the abacus incorporate numerous animal, several depictions of lions, a horse, and in particular a double-humped camel, which, Sharma says, is probably characteristic of Menander I, who is also known to have used camels on his coins.

Architecture at the perimeter

The walls in the area where the capital was found are also said to have been the work of Greek craftsmen, due to their construction consisting of large blocks joined with iron clamps and nails, a mode of construction unknown at the time in the Ganges valley. A double-tanged arrowhead of Greek design was also found in conjunction with the fortifications.

References

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Sources