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Kushan, Kushanians
(229 words)

[German version]

Eastern Iranian dynasty (1st-4th cent. AD) whose territory stretched from the Ganges to Lake Aral. The dynasty evolved from nomadic tribes (part of the Yuezhi; Indo-Scythians) who took Bactria ( Bactria) from the Greeks. Heraios is attested as their first ancestor, Kujula Kadphises as founder of the empire. His successors are Vima Kadphises, Kanishka, Vasishka, Huvishka and Vāsudeva (there may be several bearers of these names.). The dating is contentious.

The dominant religion was a syncretistic Mahāyāna-Buddhism. The arts were greatly shaped by th…

Cite this page
Karttunen, Klaus (Helsinki), “Kushan, Kushanians”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 08 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e625080>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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