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Kampyr Tepe
Q2398757Kampyr Tepe: Macedonian town in Bactria, just north of the river Oxus, founded by Alexander the Great.
Founding
- In the summer 330, the last Persian king, Darius III Codomannus, was killed; Alexander the Great announced to punish the murderers of his former enemy
- One of the murderers, Bessus, was recognized as king of Persia, and ruled under the name of Artaxerxes V; he retreated to Bactria (the Upper Oxus valley, i.e., southern Uzbekistan and northern Afghanistan) and Sogdia (the area of Samarkand)
- Making a detour through Arachosia, Alexander crossed the Hindu Kush mountains, invaded Bactria and Sogdia, saw to the punishment of Artaxerxes V, and proceeded to the river Jaxartes
- Then, an insurection started, which was to last for several years
- Because the Sogdian rebels were supported by the native population, Alexander decided to resettle all farmers and nomads in newly founded cities
- Two of these have been identified: Ai Khanum in northeastern Afghanistan and Kampyr Tepe in southern Uzkenistan
Site
- The latter controled an accessible crossing of the river Oxus and the way up to Samarkand
- Situated on a ridge above the river plain, where an unfortified lower city must have been, which was destroyed by the meandering river
- Probably named "Alexandria on the Oxus"
- Houses made of mudbrick, a powerful wall; probably the Macedonian garrison
- Macedonian, Graeco-Bactrian, and Kushan finds (a/o a Buddhist sanctuary outside the walls)
- "Golden Age" in the first and second centuries CE
Further history
- The inhabitants must have taken part in several insurrections against Alexander the Great