Ancient Buddhist Aramaic

ARAMAIC WATCH: Aramaic was also used by ancient Indian Buddhists:

A glimpse of Gandhara Buddhist heritage

Tue, 2011-06-07 01:17 — editor

By Janaka Perera (Asian Tribune)

The exhibition in Sri Lanka of Sacred Relics of the Buddha and other Buddhist artifacts from Pakistan during this Poson season (June) should widen the horizon of ordinary Buddhists here on the great Gandhara Buddhist civilization.

Although many of them are aware of the Buddhist heritage of other Asian Buddhist countries, not many Sri Lankans – even of they have heard of the name Gandhara – know where exactly it is and that it was seat of Buddhist civilization in the Indian subcontinent.

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The museum’s six galleries present the material subject wise. Among the exhibits is a complete stupa from the Buddhist monastery of Mohra Moradu, stucco sculptures from Mohra Moradan, big stucco Buddha heads, relic caskets, a sleeping Buddha from Bhamala monastery and an Aramaic inscription of Emperor Piyadasi Asoka (Dharmasoka).

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My emphasis. N. S. Gill has more on Asoka/Ashoka here.