thumb|upright=1.5|Silver coin of Artemidorus. With reverse showing winged goddess [[Nike (mythology)|Nike. The Greek legend reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΙΚΗΤΟΥ ΑΡΤΕΜΙΔΩΡΟΥ, Basileōs Anikētou Artemidōrou, "Of the Invincible King Artemidorus"]]
thumb|upright=1.5|Silver coin of Artemidorus, wearing a diadem. With reverse showing goddess [[Artemis firing a curved bow. The Greek legend reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΙΚΗΤΟΥ ΑΡΤΕΜΙΔΩΡΟΥ, Basileōs Anikētou Artemidōrou, "Of the Invincible King Artemidorus".]]
thumb|upright=1.5|Artemidorus pedigree coin as son of [[Indo-Scythian ruler Maues. Obv. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΙΚΗΤΟΥ ΑΡΤΕΜΙΟΡΟΥ (Invincible King Artemidorus). Rev. Rajadirajasa Maasaputasa ca Artemidorasa "Artemidorus, son of King of Kings Maues" or alternatively "King of kings Maues, and the son of Artemidorus".
Time of rule
Bopearachchi has suggested a date of c. 85-80 BC, but this was before the appearance of the Maues coin. Senior's dating is wider, c. 100–80 BC, because Senior has given Maues an earlier date.
Coins
During the 1990s, several new types of Artemidorus' coins appeared, of variable quality. R. C. Senior has suggested that Artemidorus relied mostly on temporary mints, perhaps because he held no major cities. All his coins were Indian bilinguals.
Silver:
Obverse: diademed or helmeted bust of king.
Reverse: Artemis facing left or right, Nike facing left or right, or king on horseback.
Artemis, the eponymous goddess of hunting, is seen using a curved bow, which may have been typical of Scythian tribes and further supports his affiliation with them.
Bronzes:
Artemis / humped bull or Artemis / lion.
See also
- Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
- Seleucid Empire
- Greco-Buddhism
- Indo-Scythians
- Indo-Parthian Kingdom
- Kushan Empire
References
- The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies by Thomas McEvilley (Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, 2002)
- The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.
External links
- Coins of Artemidoros
- More Coins of Artemidoros