Menandros I was an Indo-Greek King who ruled the eastern dominions of the divided Greek empire of Bactria and large parts of modern day India.
His capital is supposed to have been Sagala, a prosperous city in northern Punjab, Pakistan. He subsequently travelled across northern India and visited the Maurayan capital of Patna. Any plans of conquering the capital were put aside as Eucratides I king of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom began warring with the Indo-Greeks in the north-western frontier.
He is one of the few Bactrian kings mentioned by Greek authors, among them Apollodorus of Artemita, quoted by Strabo, who claims that the Greeks from Bactria were even greater conquerors than Alexander the Great, and that Menander was one of the two Bactrian kings, with Demetrius, who extended their power farthest into India.
His capital is supposed to have been Sagala, a prosperous city in northern Punjab, Pakistan. He subsequently travelled across northern India and visited the Maurayan capital of Patna. Any plans of conquering the capital were put aside as Eucratides I king of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom began warring with the Indo-Greeks in the north-western frontier.
He is one of the few Bactrian kings mentioned by Greek authors, among them Apollodorus of Artemita, quoted by Strabo, who claims that the Greeks from Bactria were even greater conquerors than Alexander the Great, and that Menander was one of the two Bactrian kings, with Demetrius, who extended their power farthest into India.
Epithet: Soter ("the Saviour")
(1)
Menandros I
An
AR
Drachm
struck 165-130 BC
in
Pushkalavati?
Obverse: helmeted draped bust right; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHΡOΣ / MENANΔΡOΥ
Reverse: Athena Alkidemos left hurling lightning and holding shield; Mahara_ja_sa Tratarasa / Menadrasa, (HΔIM)
Diameter:
15 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.4 g
No notes for this coin
SNG ANS 879 ff., Bopearachchi 16I, Mitchiner IGIS 218c