Indo-Greek kingdoms Hellenistic period

indo-greek territory, known campaigns , battles.



heracles buddha protector vajrapani, 2nd century gandhara.

the separation of indo-greek kingdom greco-bactrian kingdom resulted in more isolated position, , details of indo-greek kingdom more obscure bactria. many supposed kings in india known because of coins bearing name. numismatic evidence archaeological finds , scant historical records suggest fusion of eastern , western cultures reached peak in indo-greek kingdom.

after demetrius death, civil wars between bactrian kings in india allowed apollodotus (from c. 180/175 bc) make himself independent first proper indo-greek king (who did not rule bactria). large numbers of coins have been found in india, , seems have reigned in gandhara western punjab. apollodotus succeeded or ruled alongside antimachus ii, son of bactrian king antimachus i. in 155 (or 165) bc seems have been succeeded successful of indo-greek kings, menander i. menander converted buddhism, , seems have been great patron of religion; remembered in buddhist texts milinda . expanded kingdom further east punjab, though these conquests rather ephemeral.

after death of menander (c. 130 bc), kingdom appears have fragmented, several kings attested contemporaneously in different regions. inevitably weakened greek position, , territory seems have been lost progressively. around 70 bc, western regions of arachosia , paropamisadae lost tribal invasions, presumably tribes responsible end of bactrian kingdom. resulting indo-scythian kingdom seems have gradually pushed remaining indo-greek kingdom towards east. indo-greek kingdom appears have lingered on in western punjab until 10 ad, @ time ended indo-scythians.

after conquering indo-greeks, kushan empire took on greco-buddhism, greek language, greek script, greek coinage , artistic styles. greeks continued being important part of cultural world of india generations. depictions of buddha appear have been influenced greek culture: buddha representations in ghandara period showed buddha under protection of herakles.

several references in indian literature praise knowledge of yavanas or greeks. mahabharata compliments them all-knowing yavanas (sarvajnaa yavanaa); e.g., yavanas, o king, all-knowing; suras particularly so. mlecchas wedded creations of own fancy , such flying machines called vimanas. brihat-samhita of mathematician varahamihira says: greeks, though impure, must honored since trained in sciences , therein, excelled others..... .