Heliodorus Pillar, Victory column in Besnagar, India
The Heliodorus Pillar is a stone column with an octagonal cross-section decorated with detailed carvings and inscriptions in Brahmi script. The structure stands roughly 7 meters tall and displays a blend of different stylistic features.
The pillar was built around 110 BCE when a Greek ambassador named Heliodorus represented the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas at the court of the Sunga dynasty. This marks a key moment of contact between distant and local rulers.
The monument blends Greek architectural style with Indian religious symbols, showing how different peoples met and influenced each other in ancient times. You can observe how foreign and local traditions coexisted in the same space.
The monument sits near the confluence of two rivers, roughly 11 kilometers from the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi. From Bhopal you can reach it by car in around two to three hours.
Archaeological digs revealed that the pillar formed part of an elliptical temple complex dedicated to Vasudeva, an early form of Krishna worship. This discovery shows how ancient religious practices developed at this location.
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