---
title: Eucratidia
author: Antoine Simonin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Eucratidia

_Authored by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/)_

Eucratidia was a [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) town in [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/), one of the easternmost area ever controlled by the Greeks, located at the modern site of Aï Khanum in North-Eastern Afghanistan. The history of this [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) is still rather unknown, but it seems that, it was first built by [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) or one of his early [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) successors in the last decades of the 4th century BC, under its the name *Oskobara*.

The town was excavated by French archeologists between 1964 and 1978.Many beautiful items were found, and what came out is a mixture of Greek and Iranian elements. For example, even if the town's plan is Greek, it is not strictly hippodamian. The nature of the temples seem to indicate local cults, maybe syncretic ones. A *herôon* was also found, dedicated to the founder of the city, Kineas. And on it were inscribed the Delphic maxims, showing the will of keeping Greekhood alive, even in this far-eastern area.

After the Seleucid period, the town passed under Greco-Bactrian control, during which it seems to have well developped. It was then called Eucratidia, the name taken from [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) I, a famous and powerfull Greco-Bactrian king whose reign is dated from 170/166 BC to 145/138 BC. This change of name may indicate than the city had a key role during his reign; especially knowing that Eucratides was first an usurper; maybe Eucratidia was the center of his uprising. Unluckily, the town fell shortly after in two phases: it was first taken by some [Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) nomads from north somwhere around the end of the140s BC, and then it was looted to the ground by the Yuezhi that were pushing away the [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Passionate about ancient Central Asia. Maintains the website From Bactria to Taxila. Works in the Europa Barbarorum project.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-simonin/52/685/a9a/e)

## Timeline

- **293 BCE**: [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) is appointed vice-king of the Upper-Satrapies by his father [Seleucus I Nicator](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucos_I/).
- **250 BCE**: Former [satrap](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persian_Governor/) [Diodotos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/diodotos/) rebels against [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) king [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) I, creating the [Greco-Bactrian kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greco-Bactria/).
- **c. 171 BCE**: [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) begins his uprising against Greco-Bactrian king Demetrios II.
- **c. 145 BCE**: [Eucratidia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/) is taken by the [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/).
- **c. 139 BCE**: [Eucratidia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/) is looted to the ground by the Yuezhei.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Simonin, A. (2012, March 08). Eucratidia. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/>
### Chicago
Simonin, Antoine. "Eucratidia." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 08, 2012. <https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/>.
### MLA
Simonin, Antoine. "Eucratidia." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Mar 2012, <https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/ "User Page: Antoine Simonin"), published on 08 March 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.