Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhist symbolism

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

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

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 sub-continent. ...

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 - Aftermaths

There were over 30 Indo-Greek kings, often in competition on different territories. Many of them are only known through their coins. Not strictly an Indo-Greek king, Sophytes (305-294) was an independent Greek prince in the Punjab, following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Many of the dates, territories, and relationships between Indo-Greek kings are tentative and essentially based on numismatic analysis (find places, overstrikes, monograms, metallurgy, styles), a few Classical writings, and Indian writings and epi ...

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 - Main Indo-Greek kings timeline and territories

From 130 BCE, Indo-European nomads (the Scythians and then the Yuezhi) started to invade Bactria from the north. In 125 BCE the Greco-Bactrian king Heliocles abandoned Bactria and moved his capital to the Kabul valley, from where he ruled his Indian holdings. While the Yuezhi were to stay in Bactria for more than a century, the Scythians went on to the south-east into northern Pakistan to form Indo-Scythian kingdoms, se ...

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 - Scythian and Kushan invasions

Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism. The first known bilingual coins of the Indo-Greeks were issued by Agathocles around 180 BCE. These coins were found in Ai-Khanoum, the great Greco-Bactrian city in northeastern Afghanistan, but introduce for the first time an Indian script (the Brahmi script which had been in use under the Mauryan empire), and the first known representations of Hindu deities, in a very Indian iconography: Krishna-Vasudeva, with his large wheel with six spokes (chakra) and conch (shanka), and his bro ...

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 other faiths

The Indo-Greek kingdom was established by Demetrius, the son of the Greco-Bactrian king Euthydemus. Indo-Greek Kingdom - Occupation of Northern India. Demetrius started the invasion of northern India from 180 BCE, following the destruction of the Mauryan dynasty by the general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then founded the new Indian Sunga dynasty (185–78 BCE). Greek conquest temporarily went as far as the capital Pataliputra in eastern India (today Patna): "Those who came after Alexander went to ...

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 - Historical outline

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 ...

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 Indian culture

The Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, beyond the omnipresence of Greek style and stylistic elements which might be simply considered as an enduring artistic tradition, offers numerous depictions of people in Greek Classical realistic style, attitudes and fashion (clothes such as the chiton and the himation, similar in form and style to the 2nd century BCE Greco-Bactrian statues of Ai-Khanoum, hairstyle), holding contraptions which are characteristic of Greek culture (amphoras, "kantaros" Greek drinking cups), in situations which can ...

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 - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara