The Multan region has been continuously inhabited for at least 2,000 years. The region is home to numerous archaeological sites dating to the era of the Early Harappan period of the Indus Valley Civilisation,[16] dating from 3000 BCE until 2800 BCE.
According to the Persian historian Firishta, the city was founded by a great grandson of Noah.[15] According to Hindu religious texts, Multan was founded by the Hindu sage Kashyapa[17] and also asserts Multan as the capital of the Trigarta Kingdom ruled by the Katoch dynasty at the time of the Kurukshetra War that is central the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata.[18][19][20]
Ancient Multan was the center of a solar-worshiping tradition that was based at the ancient Multan Sun Temple.[21] While the tradition was dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya, the cult was influenced by Persian Zoroastrianism.[21] The Sun Temple was mentioned by Greek Admiral Skylax, who passed through the area in 515 BCE. The temple is also mentioned in the 400s BCE by the Greek historian, Herodotus.
