1 later history
1.1 loss of mathura , eastern territories (after 100 bce)
1.2 yuezhi expansion (70 bce–)
1.3 scythian invasions (80 bce – 50 ce)
1.4 last eastern kingdom (50 bce – 10 ce)
1.5 indo-parthian rule (10–60 ce)
1.6 kushan supremacy
later history
throughout 1st century bce, indo-greeks progressively lost ground indians in east, , scythians, yuezhi, , parthians in west. 20 indo-greek king known during period, down last known indo-greek king strato ii, ruled in punjab region until around 10 ce.
loss of mathura , eastern territories (after 100 bce)
coin of yaudheyas.
coin of philoxenus, unarmed, making blessing gesture right hand.
the indo-greeks may have ruled far area of mathura until sometime in 1st century bce: maghera inscription, village near mathura, records dedication of in 1 hundred , sixteenth year of reign of yavanas , late 70 bce. indian kings recovered area of mathura , south-eastern punjab, west of yamuna river, , started mint own coins. arjunayanas (area of mathura) , yaudheyas mention military victories on coins ( victory of arjunayanas , victory of yaudheyas ). during 1st century bce, trigartas, audumbaras , kunindas (closest punjab) started mint own coins, in style highly reminiscent of indo-greek coinage.
the western king philoxenus briefly occupied of remaining greek territory paropamisadae western punjab c. 100 bce, after territories fragmented again. following decades saw fierce internal fighting between several kings, such heliokles ii, strato , hermaeus, contributed downfall in manner perhaps reminiscent of how seleucid , ptolemaic states torn apart dynastic wars @ same period.
the yuezhi expansion (70 bce–)
philoxenus succeeded diomedes, son or younger brother, in west, reign short , succeeded hermaeus, king married princess calliope daughter of philoxenus. after reign of @ least 1 decade, hermaeus overthrown nomad tribes, either yuezhi or sakas when hermaeus depicted on coins riding horse, equipped recurve bow , bow-case of steppes.
in case, these nomads became new rulers of paropamisadae, , minted vast quantities of posthumous issues of hermaeus around 40 ce, when blend coinage of kushan king kujula kadphises. first documented yuezhi prince, sapalbizes, ruled around 20 bce, , minted in greek , in same style western indo-greek kings, depending on greek mints , celators.
scythian invasions (80 bce – 50 ce)
tetradrachm of hippostratos, reigned c. 65–55 bce.
silver coin of indo-scythian king azes ii (r. c. 35–12 bce).
around 80 bce, indo-scythian king named maues, possibly ally of of indo-greeks kings, captured taxila , ruled gandhara few years. king dethroned archebius. after maues death, indo-greeks able regain control of taxila, @ time line between greeks , sakas may not have been clear. among kings emerged in gandhara after maues death, artemidoros seemingly regular indo-greek king, presents himself son of maues on bronze. discovery caused small sensation , has led scholars such senior assume hermaeus may have been of partly saka origin.
another important king during period amyntas, issued last attic coins found in bactria , may have attempted reunite indo-greek territories. king apollodotus ii, seemingly descendant of menander, managed regain gandhara remaining greek strongholds in eastern punjab. after death of apollodotus ii kingdom fragmented once more.
in west, succeeded hippostratos successful ruler, last western ruler: around 55–50 bce defeated indo-scythian azes i, established own indo-scythian dynasty.
although indo-scythians ruled militarily , politically, remained respectful of greek , indian cultures. coins minted in greek mints, continued using proper greek , kharoshthi legends, , incorporated depictions of greek deities, particularly zeus. mathura lion capital inscription attests adopted buddhist faith, depictions of deities forming vitarka mudra on coins. greek communities, far being exterminated, persisted under indo-scythian rule. buner reliefs show indo-greeks , indo-scythians reveling in buddhist context.
the last eastern kingdom (50 bce – 10 ce)
the indo-greeks continued maintain in eastern punjab several decades, until kingdom of last indo-greek king strato ii taken on indo-scythian ruler rajuvula around 10 ce. coins of these indo-greek rulers deteriorated constantly, both in terms of artistic quality (due long isolation) , in silver content. still, last strato had honour of ruling last pocket of independent hellenistic state; when disappeared, cleopatra, seen last of rulers followed alexander great, gone.
indo-parthian rule (10–60 ce)
indo-parthian king , attendants. ancient orient museum.
the parthians, represented suren, noble parthian family of arsacid descent, started make inroads territories had been occupied indo-scythians , yuezhi, until demise of last indo-scythian emperor azes ii around 12 bce. parthians ended controlling of bactria , extensive territories in northern india, after fighting many local rulers such kushan empire ruler kujula kadphises, in gandhara region. around 20, gondophares, 1 of parthian conquerors, declared independence parthian empire , established indo-parthian kingdom in conquered territories, capital in ancient taxila.
kushan supremacy
a yuezhi/ kushan man in traditional costume tunic , boots, 2nd century ce, gandhara.
the yuezhi expanded east during 1st century ce, found kushan empire. first kushan emperor kujula kadphises ostensibly associated himself hermaeus on coins, suggesting may have been 1 of descendants alliance, or @ least wanted claim legacy. yuezhi (future kushans) in many ways cultural , political heirs indo-greeks, suggested adoption of greek culture (writing system, greco-buddhist art) , claim lineage last western indo-greek king hermaeus.
the last known mention of indo-greek ruler suggested inscription on signet ring of 1st century ce in name of king theodamas, bajaur area of gandhara, in modern pakistan. no coins of him known, signet bears in kharoshthi script inscription su theodamasa , su being explained greek transliteration of ubiquitous kushan royal title shau ( shah , king ).
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