King Telephos

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Coin of king Telephos. Obv: Deity with a human body and serpent limbs, possibly a bifidal triton. Greek legend: BASILEOS EUERGETOU TELEFOU Rev: Depiction of Helios and Selene. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA KALAKRAMASA TELIPHASA.
Coin of king Telephos.
Obv: Deity with a human body and serpent limbs, possibly a bifidal triton. Greek legend: BASILEOS EUERGETOU TELEFOU
Rev: Depiction of Helios and Selene. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA KALAKRAMASA TELIPHASA.
Coin of king Telephos. Obv: Zeus seated on a throne, scepter in left hand, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand, similar to the Buddhist vitarka mudra. Greek legend: BASILEOS EUERGETOY TILEFOY Rev: Man in tunic, with pointed cap, holding a spear on the left shoulder, right hand forward. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA KALAKRAMASA TELIPHASA.
Coin of king Telephos.
Obv: Zeus seated on a throne, scepter in left hand, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand, similar to the Buddhist vitarka mudra. Greek legend: BASILEOS EUERGETOY TILEFOY
Rev: Man in tunic, with pointed cap, holding a spear on the left shoulder, right hand forward. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA KALAKRAMASA TELIPHASA.

Telephos was an Indo-Greek king who ruled between 75 and 70 BCE. Although a few coins of him are known, none of them bear his likeness, a rare occurrence in Indo-Greek coinage.

Despite his Greek name, Telephos might therefore have been a ruler of Saka origin. Telephos overstruck the earlier king Archebius.


Preceded by:
Indo-Scythian king
Maues
Indo-Greek Ruler
(Gandhara)
(75-70 BCE).
Succeeded by:
Indo-Scythian king'
Azes I

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • "The Greeks in Bactria and India", W.W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.
  • "The Coin types of the Indo-Greek Kings 256-54 BCE", A.K. Narain