# @shabnamnasimi on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DChixd2xZOK
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/32261805-shabnamnasimi-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c82fd8de98.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-18T19:16:16.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Shabnam Nasimi (@ShabnamNasimi) — https://gondola.cc/ShabnamNasimi

## Caption

DID YOU KNOW? 💡

Bamiyan province in Afghanistan is known as the “Shining Light,” or “Valley of Gods” and is one of the oldest cities in Central and South Asia, with a history that stretches back over 2,500 years. 

The name “Bamiyan” derives from the Middle Persian word Bamikan (Bām (بام), meaning “roof” or “high place,” and “kan”, which means “place”). Bamiyan was established as a settlement around the 6th century BCE, during the time of the Achaemenid Empire. 

Buddhism arrived in Bamiyan in the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire. By the 2nd century CE, under the Kushan Empire, Bamiyan flourished as a hub of Buddhist learning and art. Monasteries, stupas, and the two iconic Buddha statues were constructed during this period which were the tallest standing Buddha statues in the world, measuring 55 metres and 38 metres.

Bamiyan is also home to the world’s FIRST known oil paintings, created by Buddhist monks in the 7th century CE. These intricate frescoes, depicting spiritual and cultural themes, were painted using walnut or poppy oil and adorn the caves surrounding the Buddha statues. They predate European oil painting by several centuries. 

The Kushans, who were patrons of Buddhism, facilitated the blending of Indian, Persian, and Hellenistic influences in Bamyan’s Buddhist art.

Bamiyan appears in the Shahnameh, the Persian epic written by Ferdowsi, as a strategic location in several battles. The renowned Persian scholar and polymath, Al-Biruni, described its cultural and religious significance, particularly during the Buddhist era. The Persian poet and philosopher Nasir Khusraw, who travelled extensively, mentioned Bamiyan during his 11th-century journeys. He recorded the grandeur of the Buddhas and the thriving cultural and economic life of the valley at the time.

Today, the valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its archaeological significance, breathtaking landscapes, and enduring legacy of cultural exchange. Bamiyan is predominantly inhabited by the Hazara ethnic group today, who have their own unique language, traditions, and culture. 

#Afghanistan #AncientHistory #Bamyan #Bamiyan #Bamian

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## Tags

bamiyan, afghanistan, ancienthistory, bamyan, bamian

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