ABSTRACT
Excavations conducted in the city of Ai Khanoum have uncovered several types of buildings. Some of them are typically Greek, such as the theatre and the gymnasium, but their architecture, like that of other buildings, combines characteristics of different origins. In addition to the widespread use of mud bricks for construction, we can also observe influences from Mesopotamian, Iranian and of course Central Asian architecture. Thus, for the large residential buildings an original plan was adopted which is still attested later in Central Asia as well as in Mesopotamia. We can probably consider that this plan is of Iranian origin and was then adapted to the needs of the Greek settlers in Ai Khanoum.
