Menander II

Menander II
Menander II
	Indo-Greek king
Reign	90–85 BC
Born	Sagala
Religion	Hellenism; Buddhism

Kharoshthi legend: "Maharajasa dharmikasa Minamdrasa" (King Menander follower of the Dharma").^[1]

Menander II equipped with a cuirass, lamellar armour for the thighs, and greaves, and making a blessing gesture. This is the obverse figure of an Indian-standard square coin of Menander II, with walking lion on the reverse.^[2]

Menander II Dikaios (

Indo-Greek King who ruled in the areas of Arachosia and Gandhara in the north of modern Pakistan. However, since he is entirely known through his coins, this may have just been a separate set of coins issued by Menander I

with a different epithet.

Time of reign

Bopearachchi has suggested that Menander II reigned c. 90–85 BC, whereas R. C. Senior has suggested c. 65 BC. In that case, Menander II ruled remaining Indo-Greek territories in Gandhara after the invasion of Maues.

Relations to other kings

Menander II Dikaios may have belonged to the dynasty of Menander I Soter, the greatest of the Indo-Greek kings. It was long believed that there was only one king named Menander (see discussion under

Milindapanha

.

On the other hand, the name Menander could well have been popular in the Indo-Greek kingdom, and the coins of Menander II are not very like those of Menander I nor of those other kings (such as

Artemidorus

, son of Maues, since their coins use similar types and are often found together.

There is a small possibility that Menander II, rather than Menander I, is actually the Buddhist Greek king referred to in the Milinda Panha. This point is unsolved however, since Greek sources (Plutarch (Praec. reip. ger. 28, 6)) relate that the great conqueror Menander I is the one who received the honour of burial in what could be interpreted as Buddhist stupas.

More likely, Menander I may indeed have first supported Buddhism, like the other Indo-Greek kings, and was probably the protagonist of the Milindapanha, on account of his described fame, whereas Menander II, a minor king, may have wholeheartedly embraced Buddhism, as exemplified by his coins.

Coins of Menander II

Kharoshthi legend reads MAHARAJASA DHARMIKASA MENADRASA (King Menander, follower of the Dharma

).

The coins of Menander II bear the mention "Menander the Just", and "King of the

Kharoshti

, suggesting that he adopted the Buddhist faith. Menander II struck only Indian silver. These depict the king in diadem or helmet of the type of Menander I, with a number of reverses: a king on horseback, Nike and a sitting Zeus of the type of

Amyntas Nikator

, but with an eight-spoked Buddhist wheel instead of the small elephant.

His bronzes feature Athena standing, with spear and palm-branch, shield at her feet, making a benediction gesture with the right hand, similar to the

Buddhist vitarka mudra

. Other varieties feature a king performing the same gesture.

On the reverse is a lion, symbol of

Mauryan King Ashoka

. In general, the coins of Menander II are quite few, which tends to indicate a rather small rule.

A contemporary king to represent the Buddhist lion on his coins is the

Indo-Scythian king Maues

, around 85 BC.

Menander II as a spearholder.
Menander II riding horse.
Indian standard coin with Nike making a blessing gesture and seated lion.
With
Dioskouroi
.

References

^ Bopearachchi 4A and note 4; Bopearachchi & Rahman -; SNG ANS
^ Bopearachchi Catalogue, Pl.49 Serie 7, Q

External links

Preceded by Peukolaos	Indo-Greek ruler in Arachosia and Gandhara 90–85 BC	Succeeded by Archebios

[3] O. Bopearachchi, "Monnaies gréco-bactriennes et indo-grecques, Catalogue raisonné", Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 1991, p.453

[4] Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2 April 2019). "History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE". BRILL – via Google Books.

[1] Bopearachchi 4A and note 4; Bopearachchi & Rahman -; SNG ANS

[2] Bopearachchi Catalogue, Pl.49 Serie 7, Q

[1]

[2]

[t 1]

[t 2]

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Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenos Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebius Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II Strato III
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Hellenistic rulers were preceded by Hellenistic satraps in most of their territories.

Time of reign

Relations to other kings

Coins of Menander II

References

Further reading

External links