What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them?
- Category
History
- Published
31st Mar, 2022
-
Context
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has recently said it would protect the ancient Buddha statues in Mes Aynak.
About
About Bamiyan Buddhas:
- The Bamiyan Buddhas were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
- They are said to date back to the 5th century AD.
- They were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world.
- They were called by the locals Salsal and Shamama.
- Salsal means “light shines through the universe”; Shamama is “Queen Mother”.
- UNESCO included the remains in its list of world heritage sites in 2003
- Efforts have been made to restore and reconstruct the Buddhas in their niches with the pieces available.

About Bamiyan:
- It is situated in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush in the central highlands of Afghanistan.
- The valley is set along the line of the Bamiyan River.
- It was once integral to the early days of the Silk Roads, providing passage for merchants, culture, religion and language.