Shunga Empire facts for kids

Sunga Empire was founded by Pushyamitra Sunga who betrayed his master Brihadratha Maurya and defeated him in a war. He killed the Mauryan emperor and destroyed the Mauryan empire completely. Its capital was Pataliputra. Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers. But after Agnimitra's death, the empire begun to broke up.

The dynasty is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and native powers (empires).They fought against the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek Kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.

Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flourished (developed) during this period.Patanjali's Mahābhāṣya was composed in this period.The Kanva dynasty succeeded the Shungas around 73 BCE.

List of Shunga Emperors

Images for kids

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  Man on a relief, Bharhut, Shunga period.

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  Shunga royal family, West Bengal, 1st century BCE.

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  Shunga horseman, Bharhut.

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  Shunga period stupa at Sanchi.

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  East Gateway and Railings, Red Sandstone, Bharhut Stupa, 2nd century BCE. Indian Museum, Kolkata.

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  The Great Stupa under the Shungas. The Shungas nearly doubled the diameter of the initial stupa, encasing it in stone, and built a balustrade and a railing around it.

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  Vedika pillar with "Yavana" Greek warrior. Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh, Shunga Period, c. 100-80 BC. Reddish brown sandstone. Indian Museum, Calcutta.

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  The Yavanarajya inscription, dated to "year 116 of Yavana hegemony", probably 70 or 69 BCE, was discovered in Mathura. Mathura Museum.

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  The Heliodorus pillar was built in Vidisha under the Shungas, at the instigation of Heliodorus, ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas. The pillar originally supported a statue of Garuda. Established circa 100 BCE.

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  Shunga balustrade and staircase.

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  Shunga stonework.

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  Shunga vedika (railing) with inscriptions.

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  Deambulatory pathway.

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  Summit railing and umbrellas.

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  Elephant and Riders.

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  Balustrade post with Lakshmi.

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  Balustrade post with Yaksha.

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  Pillar with elephants supporting a wheel.

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  Personage.

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  Lotus.

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  Floral motif.

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  Foreigner on a horse, circa 115 BCE.

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  Relic boxes found inside the stupa.

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  Stairway and railing.

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  Lotus medallions.

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  Floral designs.

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  Post relief.

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  Relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana.

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  Shunga masculine figurine (molded plate). 2nd–1st century BCE.

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  Shunga mother figure, with attendant. 2nd–1st century BCE.

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  Baluster-holding yakṣa, Madhya Pradesh, Shunga period (2nd–1st century BCE). Guimet Museum.

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  Royal family, Shunga, West Bengal 1st century BCE.

See also

In Spanish: Imperio Śuṅga para niños