The Scythian Period
By Nalinaksha Dutt
Summary
This brief review discusses J. E. van Lohuizen‑de Leeuw’s monograph “The ‘Scythian’ Period”, which synthesises archaeological, epigraphic and artistic evidence for the history of north‑west India from the first century B.C. to the third century A.D. The reviewer praises the author’s thoroughness in assembling material on the Indo‑Scythian, Indo‑Parthian and Kuṣāṇa eras and in tackling three major questions: the chronology of eras and the date of Kaniṣka’s accession, the development of Jina and Buddha images in Gandhāra and Mathurā, and the political history of the region. Van Lohuizen‑de Leeuw argues that only one era preceded Kaniṣka and that it began in 129 B.C.; she places Kaniṣka’s accession between A.D. 71 and 86. In art history, she contends that Gandhāran art was more influenced by India than by the West and that the term ‘Bodhisattva’ should not be translated as ‘creature’. The reviewer notes that the book includes 435 pages with numerous plates and concludes that it will be invaluable to advanced students because it summarises diverse scholarly opinions on a difficult period. Minor criticisms are levelled at some interpretations, but overall the work is praised for bringing clarity to a complex era.
Conclusion
The review commends van Lohuizen‑de Leeuw’s study for illuminating the so‑called Scythian period of Indian history by integrating art historical and epigraphic evidence. Her chronology for the Kuṣāṇa era and her assessments of Gandhāran and Mathurān art challenge earlier assumptions and underscore indigenous contributions. While some proposed readings and translations may be debated, the reviewer concludes that the monograph serves as an essential reference for understanding north‑west India between the fall of the Mauryas and the rise of the Guptas.