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Hippostratus

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Hippostratus
Portrait of Hippostratus
Indo-Greekking
Reign65–55 BCE
Tetradrachm of Hippostratus.
Obv:Bust of Hippostratus with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΙΠΠΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ "Of Great King Saviour Hippostratus".
Rev:King on horseback, galloping.Kharoshthilegend: MAHARAJASA TRATASA MAHATASA JAYAMTASA HIPUSTRATASA "King Hippostratus, the Great Saviour and Conqueror.
Tetradrachm of Hippostratos.
Obv:Bust of Hippostratos with Greek legend BΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΙΠΠΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ "Great King Saviour Hippostratus".
Rev:King on horseback, walking, making a gesture of benediction.Kharoshthilegend: MAHARAJASA TRATASA MAHATASA JAYAMTASA HIPUSTRATASA "King Hippostratus, the Great Saviour and Conqueror.
Hippostratus withTritonholding dolphin and rudder andTyche.

Hippostratus(Ancient Greek:Ἱππόστρατος,romanized:Hippostratos,meaning "army of horses" ) was anIndo-Greekking who ruled central and north-westernPunjabandPushkalavati.Bopearachchi dates Hippostratus to 65 to 55 BCE whereas R. C. Senior suggests 60 to 50 BCE.

Rule[edit]

In Bopearachchi's reconstruction Hippostratus came to power as the successor toApollodotus II,in the western part of his kingdom, while the weakDionysiusascended to the throne in the eastern part. Senior assumes that the reigns of Apollodotus II and Hippostratos overlapped somewhat; in that case Hippostratus first ruled a kingdom situated to the west of Apollodotus' dominions.

Just like Apollodotus II, Hippostratus calls himselfSoter,"Saviour", on all his coins, and on some coins he also assumes the titleBasileos Megas,"Great King", which he inherited from Apollodotus II. This may support Senior's scenario that Hippostratus extended his kingdom after Apollodotus' death. The relationship between these two kings remains uncertain due to lack of sources. Hippostratos did not, however, use the symbol of standing Athena Alkidemos, which was common to all other kings thought to be related to Apollodotus II. The two kings share only one monogram.

The quantity and quality of the coinage of Hippostratus indicate a quite powerful king. Hippostratus seems to have fought rather successfully against theIndo-Scythianinvaders, led by the Scythian kingAzes I,but was ultimately defeated and became the last western Indo-Greek king.

Coinage[edit]

Hippostratus issued silver coins with a diademed portrait on the obverse, and three reverses. The first is the image of a king on prancing horse, a common type which was most frequently used by the earlier kingsAntimachus IIandPhiloxenus.The second reverse also portrays a king on horseback, but the horse is walking and the king making a benediction gesture - this type resembles a rare type of Apollodotus II. The third is a standing goddess, perhapsTyche.

Hippostratus struck several bronzes of types used by several kings:

  • Serpent-legged deity (as used byTelephus) / standing goddess.
  • Apollo/tripod (Apollodotus II, several earlier kings)
  • Sitting Zeus-Mithras / horse, reminiscent of coins ofHermaeus.

Overstrikes[edit]

Azes Ioverstruck several of Hippostratus' coins.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • The Greeks in Bactria and India,W.W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press

External links[edit]

Preceded by Indo-Greek Ruler
(inWestern Punjab)

65 – 55 BCE
Succeeded by