Antialcidas

Antialcidas was an Indo-Greek king, who reigned from his capital at Taxila from around 115 to 95 BCE. Antialcidas is known from an inscription left on a pillar (the Heliodorus pillar) erected by his ambassador Heliodorus at the court of the Sunga king Bhagabhadra at Vidisha. The inscriptions says: "This Garuda-standard was made by order of the Bhagavata _.Heliodoros, the son of Dion, a man of Taxila, a Greek ambassador from King Antialkidas, to King Bhagabhadra, the son of the Princess from Benares, the saviour, whil ...

Including:

• Antialcidas - A relative of Eucratides?

Read more here: » Antialcidas: Encyclopedia - Antialcidas

The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 CE. They were the successors in India of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek kings (the Euthydemids) founded by the military governor Diodotus around 250 BCE when he established the independence of his Bactrian territory from the Seleucid Empire. During the two centuries of their rule, the Indo-Greek kings combined the Greek and Indian languages and sym ...

Including:

• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Historical outline
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Occupation of Northern India
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and Indian culture
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and Buddhism
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - The conversion of Menander
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhist proselytism
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhist symbolism
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Representation of the Buddha
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and other faiths
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Scythian and Kushan invasions
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Aftermaths
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Main Indo-Greek kings timeline and territories
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greek princelets Gandhara
• Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia - Indo-Greek Kingdom

"Yona" (also sometimes "Yonaka") is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate ancient Greek people. Its equivalent in Sanskrit is the word "Yavana". "Yona" and "Yavana" are both transliterations of the Greek word for "Ionians" (Homer Iāones, older *Iāwones), who were probably the first Greeks to be known in the East. Yona - Old World usage. This usage was shared by many of the countries east of Greece, from the Mediterranean to India and China: Egyptians used ...

Including:

• Yona - Old World usage
• Yona - Indian references
• Yona - Role in Buddhism
• Yona - Invasion of India
• Yona - Scientific abilities
• Yona - Other references
• Yona - The Yonas and other northwestern invaders in Indian literature
• Yona - Later meanings
• Yona - Contemporary usage
• Yona - Notes
• Yona - External link

Read more here: » Yona: Encyclopedia - Yona

Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelled Græco-Buddhism, is the cultural syncretism between the culture of Classical Greece and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 800 years in Central Asia in the area corresponding to modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE. Greco-Buddhism influenced the artistic (and, possibly, conceptual) development of Buddhism, and in particular Mahayana Buddhism, before it was adopted by Central and Northeastern Asia from the 1st century CE, ultima ...

Including:

• Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline
• Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions
• Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325
• Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE
• Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences
• Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha
• Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon
• Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana
• Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences
• Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism
• Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia
• Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West
• Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges
• Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences
• Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Greco-Buddhism

Bhagavan - also written Bhagawan or Bhagwan (भगवान् in devanagari script, Bhagavān in IAST) is a Sanskrit word meaning Holy or Blessed one. Historically, it has been used by many spiritual masters in India including Gautama Buddha, Ramana Maharshi and Rajneesh. A title of veneration, it is often translated as "Lord" as in "Lord Krishna" or "Lord Siva". Bhagavan - Usage. The actual word is Bhagavat (भगवत् in Devanagari script, pronounced as "bhIncluding:

• Bhagavan - Usage
• Bhagavan - Early epigraphical evidence
• Bhagavan - Devotional Hinduism
• Bhagavan - Devotional Buddhism

Read more here: » Bhagavan: Encyclopedia - Bhagavan

There are two inscriptions on the pillar. The first inscription describes in Brahmi the situation of Heliodorus and his relationship to the Sunga and Indo-Greek kings. "Devadevasa Va [sude]vasa Garudadhvajo ayam karito i[a] Heliodorena bhaga- vatena Diyasa putrena Takhasilakena Yonadatena agatena maharajasa Amtalikitasa upa[m]ta samkasam-rano Kasiput[r]asa [Bh]agabhadrasa tratarasa vasena [chatu]dasena rajena vadhaman ...

See also:

Heliodorus pillar, Heliodorus pillar - Inscriptions, Heliodorus pillar - Hindu-Buddhist reconciliation

Read more here: » Heliodorus pillar: Encyclopedia II - Heliodorus pillar - Inscriptions

In addition to the worship of the Classical pantheon of the Greek deities found on their coins (Zeus, Herakles, Athena, Apollo...), the Indo-Greeks were involved with local faiths, particularly with Buddhism, but also with Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism. Main article: Greco-Buddhism The Edicts of Ashoka, inscribed during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka (273-232 BCE), claim that the Greek populations of the northwestern Indian subcontinent (in today's Afghani ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion

Main article: Greco-Buddhism The Edicts of Ashoka, inscribed during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka (273-232 BCE), claim that the Greek populations of the northwestern Indian subcontinent (in today's Afghanistan and ancient Gandhara) had already welcomed Buddhism by around 250 BCE: "Here in the king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Historical outline, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Occupation of Northern India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and Indian culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - The conversion of Menander, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhist proselytism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhist symbolism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Representation of the Buddha, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and other faiths, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Scythian and Kushan invasions, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Aftermaths, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Main Indo-Greek kings timeline and territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greek princelets Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - The Indo-Greeks and Buddhism

The coins of Demetrius III are few and rather crude. He copies some of his imagery from the renowned Bactrian king Demetrius I (c.200-180 BCE). The two namesakes share the war-like epithet Aniketos(Invincible) and wear elephant-crowns, the symbol that Alexander the Great used to celebrate his conquest of the Indus Valley. The historical sources of the Indo-Greek kingdom are very few, and the separation of kings with the same name is not an easy process. Numismatician Bopearachchi identifies three kings named Demetrius, placing the third around 100 BCE due to mintmarks an ...

See also:

Demetrios III, Demetrios III - Date of reign uncertain, Demetrios III - Possible dynastic context

Read more here: » Demetrios III: Encyclopedia II - Demetrios III - Date of reign uncertain

Strato's territory extended from the mid-Punjab at the Jhelum River in the West to Mathura in the East, retaining the capital of his father in Sagala (modern Sialkot) in the northern Punjab, or possibly to the city of Bucephala (Plutarch, p. 48 n. 5). The area of Gandhara, west of river Jhelum, also belonged to the kingdom but seems to have been lost during the latter part of Strato's reign, perhaps to the Western king Antialcidas. According to archaelogical evidence, Strato I was apparently the last Greek king to hold Mathura, which seems to ha ...

See also:

Strato I, Strato I - Territorial losses, Strato I - Notes

Read more here: » Strato I: Encyclopedia II - Strato I - Territorial losses

The actual word is Bhagavat (भगवत् in Devanagari script, pronounced as "bhəgəvət"), and its nominative singular form under nominal declination is Bhagavān. It literally means "possessing fortune, fortunate" (from the root "Bhaga", meaning fortune, glory) , and hence "glorious, divine, venerable, holy", etc. It is also an epithet of some devas like Vishnu, his incarnation Krishna and Shiva. Other religions like Buddhism and Jainism also use the epithet of Bhagavan before their founders Gautama Buddha and ...

See also:

Bhagavan, Bhagavan - Usage, Bhagavan - Early epigraphical evidence, Bhagavan - Devotional Hinduism, Bhagavan - Devotional Buddhism

Read more here: » Bhagavan: Encyclopedia II - Bhagavan - Usage

In Indian sources, the usage of the words "Yona", "Yauna", "Yonaka", "Yavana" or "Javana" etc appears repeatedly, and particularly in relation to the Greek kingdoms which neighboured or sometimes occupied the Indian sub-continent over a period of several centuries from the 4th century BCE to the 1st century CE, such as the Seleucid Empire, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom and the Indo-Greek kingdom. Even long before Alexander's invasion, the Greek settlements had existed in eastern parts of Achaemenid empire, north-west of India, as neighbors to the Iranian Kambojas. The references to the Yonas in the early Bu ...

See also:

Yona, Yona - Old World usage, Yona - Indian references, Yona - Role in Buddhism, Yona - Invasion of India, Yona - Scientific abilities, Yona - Other references, Yona - The Yonas and other northwestern invaders in Indian literature, Yona - Later meanings, Yona - Contemporary usage, Yona - Notes, Yona - External link

Read more here: » Yona: Encyclopedia II - Yona - Indian references

The length of the Greek presence in Central Asia and northern India provided opportunities for interaction, not only on the artistic, but also on the religious plane. Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325. When Alexander conquered the Bactrian and Gandharan regions, these areas may already have been under Buddhist influence. According to a legend preserved in Pali, the language of the Theravada canon, two merchant brothers from Bactria, named Tapassu and Bhallika, visited the Buddha and became his disciples. They then ret ...

See also:

Greco-Buddhism, Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline, Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions, Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325, Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE, Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE, Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences, Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha, Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana, Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences, Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism, Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West, Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges, Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences, Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions

Lysias issued some coins which bear the name of the "Western" king Antialcidas on the reverse, in the Kharoshthi script: MAHARAJASA JAYADHARASA AMTIALIKIDASA "The victorious king Antialcidas", together with the pilei (hats) of the Dioscuri, a type typical of Antialcidas. The obverse is a bust of Herakles with the Greek legend BASILEOS ANIKITOU LUSIOU "Invicible King Lysias" (British Museum Catalogue). It has been suggested that the two kings might have forged some kind of alliance, which may have remained until the last Indo-Greek kings, as ...

See also:

King Lysias, King Lysias - Coin types, King Lysias - East-West alliance

Read more here: » King Lysias: Encyclopedia II - King Lysias - East-West alliance

Heliocles II seems to have been the successor of Strato I in Punjab - the two share several coinmarks. Still, the coins of Heliocles II are quite unlike those of the "Eastern" house to which Strato belonged; instead, he is more readily associated with the "Western" house of Eucratides I and Heliocles I. The portraits of the coins of the second Heliocles are very alike those of Antialcidas who seems to have been an important Western king. This seemningly paradox might be explained as follows: In the years before 100 BCE the eastern Ind ...

See also:

Heliokles II, Heliokles II - A relative of the western king Antialcidas?, Heliokles II - Overstrikes, Heliokles II - Notes

Read more here: » Heliokles II: Encyclopedia II - Heliokles II - A relative of the western king Antialcidas?

Amyntas minted the largest silver coins of Antiquity: some of his coins were double-decadrachms, of a weight of 85g. These huge coins were found on the archeological site of Qunduz in Afghanistan. His portraits as well as his choice of obverses (either Zeus sitting, or as above, Tyche in an identical position) suggest that Amyntas was a relative of Antialcidas. His main coin type is Zeus seated, holding a victory palm in the right hand, and in the right hand holding Athena who is forming the vitarka mudra. Some of his rarer typ ...

See also:

Amyntas, Amyntas - Coinage, Amyntas - Notes

Read more here: » Amyntas: Encyclopedia II - Amyntas - Coinage

Buddhism flourished under the Indo-Greek kings, and it has been suggested that their invasion of India was intended to show their support for the philhellenic Mauryan empire, and to protect the Buddhist faith from the religious persecutions of the Sungas. Demetrius, who organized the invasion, was named Dharmamita ("Friend of the Dharma") in the Indian text of the Yuga-Purana. The city of Sirkap founded by Demetrius combines Greek and Indian influences without ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture

From the 1st century CE, the Greek communities of central Asia and northwestern India lived under the control of the Kushan branch of the Yuezhi, apart from a short-lived invasion of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom. The Kushans founded the Kushan Empire, which was to prosper for several centuries. In the south, the Greeks were under the rule of the Western Kshatrapas. It is unclear how much longer the Greeks managed to maintain a distinct presence in the Indian su ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom

The existence of numerous overstrikes helps locate the reign of Heliokles II in relation to other Indo-Greek kings. Heliokles overstruck coins of Agathokleia, Strato I, Antialcidas, and Hermaeus. Conversely, Amyntas overstruck coins of Heliokles II. These overstrikes would suggest that Heliokles II reigned around 95-85 BCE, and was a contemporary of Amyntas and Hermaios ^{See also:}

Heliokles II, Heliokles II - A relative of the western king Antialcidas?, Heliokles II - Overstrikes, Heliokles II - Notes

Read more here: » Heliokles II: Encyclopedia II - Heliokles II - Overstrikes

Lysias' coins use almost entirely the type of King Demetrius: the elephant scalp, Herakles standing, crowning himself, and holding his club, with the single addition of a palm to signify victory. On some other coins, he can be helmeted, or wearing the Greek flat hat "kausia". His "Indian type" square copper coinage show a bust of Herakles, with an "elephant god" on reverse. ...

See also:

King Lysias, King Lysias - Coin types, King Lysias - East-West alliance

Read more here: » King Lysias: Encyclopedia II - King Lysias - Coin types