Two Kharoṣṭhī Inscriptions from Takht-i-Bahi

Abstract

This article examines two Kharoṣṭhī inscriptions on architectural elements from Takht-i-Bahi dating to the mid- to late Kushan period, one kept in the Islamabad Museum, the other in the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the University of Missouri. It offers a new interpretation of the Islamabad inscription, identifying the personal names of the donors and clarifying linguistic details of the formula. It then demonstrates that the Islamabad and Missouri inscriptions in all likelihood belonged to the same structure, or to two structures built on the same plan, at Takht-i-Bahi, and were donated by members of the same family.