Telephus Euergetes
Telephos Euergetes (the Benefactor) | |
---|---|
Indo-Greekking | |
Reign | 75–70 BCE |
Born | Sagala[citation needed] |
Telephus Euergetes(Ancient Greek:Τήλεφος Εὐεργέτης,romanized:Tēlephos Euergetēs;Euergetesmeans "the Benefactor" ) was a lateIndo-Greekking who seems to have been one of the weak and brief successors ofMaues.Bopearachchi dates Telephus between 75–70 BCE and places him in Gandhara, Senior to c. 60 BCE and suggests that he ruled in some parts of Pushkalavati or even further west.
Nothing is known about his dynastic connections. His few coins are rather singular and none of them bear his likeness, a rare occurrence in Indo-Greek coinage. Despite his Greek name, Telephus might therefore have been a ruler ofSakaorigin. His epithet was also unprecedented.
Coinage
[edit]The silver coinage of Telephus is rare and mostly consists ofdrachms;only a fewtetradrachmsare known. On the Greek side is a serpent-footed monster holding the stems of two plants, and on theKharoshthiside two deities that probably should be identified withHeliosandSelene,the sun and moon. Both types were unique in the area, though the monster would later appear on bronzes ofHippostratus.
An example of one of his bronzes is seen above, The obverse is the common type of sitting Zeus making a benediction gesture, whereas on the reverse is the unique type of a squatting man holding what on some specimens looks like a spear, on others a palm branch.
Telephus used only two monograms, which he inherited fromMaues.
Overstrikes
[edit]Telephos overstruck the earlier kingArchebius.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- The Greeks in Bactria and India,W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.
- The Coin Types of the Indo-Greek Kings, 256-54 B.C.,A. K. Narain.