The area today is called Ai-Khanoum and was discovered by chance in the 60s. It is an archaeological site whose ruins and history have fascinated historians and archaeologists for decades.
It was originally founded by Seleucus I Nicator who was a descendant of Alexander the Great. It was probably then called Eucratidea of Bactria.
Its location at the time made it an important center of trade and culture. It was a cosmopolitan place with Greek architecture. The inhabitants were Greeks but also people of other nationalities.
Experts say that the Greek language was used there for 2 centuries after Alexander.
However, the area was vulnerable to military attacks, something that likely brought instability and the fallout that followed. Some other speculations say that the economic downturn forced the residents to leave. Others say that natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes destroyed it. What is certain is that the exact causes for the loss are imprecise. But there is agreement that this happened around 2 centuries BC.
For about 2,000 years the city was hidden beneath the desert sands.
[Source: http://www.greekreporter.com]
