Sirkap
A Graeco-Bactrian city, one of several cities at the site known as Taxila. Founded either by Demetrios I ca. 189 B.C., or more probably by his sons Agathokles and Pantaleon ca. 182. Since the Greek city lies 3.9-5.4 m beneath the surface, and under later Saka and Parthian rebuildings, relatively little of its area has been excavated. The general plan, however, which was retained in later times, has been recovered: a broad main street with lesser cross streets at right angles and at equal intervals. Houses were of rubble masonry, and fairly symmetrical in plan with rooms grouped around a central courtyard. The foundation and sections of the upper levels of a wall of limestone masonry survive; it ran for nearly 5.6 km around the city. Objects from the Greek levels include coins, terracotta figurines, vases, and stone dishes. The city was first rebuilt by the Sakas, who took it ca. 90 B.C., and later by the Parthians.
BIBLIOGRAPHYJ. Marshall, Taxila. An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations (1951) 39-40, 113-18, 123-30; G. Woodcock, The Greeks in India (1966) 81-82, 86-90, 107.
D. N. WILBER