Ancient Burma The States Of Pyu - Srikshetra

Srikshetra was once a powerful fortified city located in south central Burma reached its apex between the 5th-9th centuries. A peaceful and powerful people who culturally dominated the region of Southeast Asia from northern Burma to southern Vietnam. The details about the people of Pyu are far from understood. Little has been recovered from Pyu in terms of literature and archaeological evidence. Of the Pyu cities Srikshetra is thought to be the political and cultural capitol.




The smaller cities of Pyu met an unfortunate end when in the mid 9th century AD Chinese invaders from the north east reportedly carried off the entire population to be used as slaves. Burnt timbers in the cities confirm a destruction by fire and warfare. Mean while Srikshetra seems to have been at its height at this time, and at some point the city declined rapidly and eventually was abandoned in the late 11th century. There doesn't seem any archaeological evidence to suggest that the city was overthrown violently. The Pyu had a long history of contact with India and both Buddhism and Hinduism played a key role in the cultural and aesthetic dominance of the people in the area for centuries.



Around 860 AD a tribal people from southern China called Burmese rapidly populated the dry plains and eventually absorbed the Pyu people, culture and art into their society.The coins of Pyu cease to be made after this date. Coinage would not resume in Burma for almost 7 centuries.

This is one of the last coins.

Burma,
The States of Pyu, The City of Srikshetra
AR Full Unit (96 Ratti) s. 632-835 AD
35 mm x 9.53 g
obverse: Bhadrapitha Symbol. A Drum tied in the center with diadems.
reverse: Srivatsa symbol (the Temple of Sri, fertility goddess) with sun and moon above, conch shell on the right and thunderbolt to the left.