Azilises

Azilises
Azilises
	Coin of Azilises, Gandhara mint
Indo-Scythian king
Reign	57 – 35 BC
Predecessor	Azes I
Successor	Azes II

Azilises (Greek: Αζιλίσης Azilísēs, ΑΖΙΛΙΣΟΥ Azilisou (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨀𐨩𐨁𐨫𐨁𐨮 A-yi-li-ṣa, Ayiliṣa^[1]) was an Indo-Scythian king who ruled in the area of Gandhara circa 57-35 BCE.

Name

Azes's name is attested on his coins in the Greek form Azilísēs (Αζιλίσης) and the Kharosthi form Ayiliṣa (𐨀𐨩𐨁𐨫𐨁𐨮),^[1] which are both derived from the Saka name *Azalīźa, meaning "commander-in-chief".^[2]

Coinage

Azilises issued some joint coins with Azes, where Azes is presented as king on the obverse (ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΖΙΛΙΣΟΥ), and Azilises is introduced as king on the obverse in kharoshthi ("Maharajasa rajarajasa mahatasa Ayilisasa", "The great king, the king of kings, the great Azilises").^[3]

References

^ a b Gardner, Percy (1929). The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum. London: Gilbert & Rivington Ltd. pp. 92-97. ISBN 978-0-900-83452-3.
^ Harmatta, János (1999). "Languages and scripts in Graeco-Bactria and the Saka Kingdoms". In Harmatta, János; Puri, B. N.; Etemadi, G. F. (eds.). History of civilizations of Central Asia. Vol. 2. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 409. ISBN 978-8-120-81408-0.
^ Mitchiner, Michael (1975). Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coinage. Vol. 2. Sanderstead: Hawkins Publications. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-904-17309-3.

Sources

Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2016). "The Sacral Kingship of the early Arsacids. I. Fire Cult and Kingly Glory". Anabasis. Studia Classica et Orientalia: 91–106.
The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies by Thomas McEvilley (Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, 2002) ISBN 1-58115-203-5
The Greeks in Bactria and India, W.W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.

External links

Coins of Azilises

Preceded by Azes I	Indo-Scythian Ruler 57–35 BC	Succeeded by Azes II

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[Gardner-1] Gardner, Percy (1929). The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum. London: Gilbert & Rivington Ltd. pp. 92-97. ISBN 978-0-900-83452-3.

[2] Harmatta, János (1999). "Languages and scripts in Graeco-Bactria and the Saka Kingdoms". In Harmatta, János; Puri, B. N.; Etemadi, G. F. (eds.). History of civilizations of Central Asia. Vol. 2. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 409. ISBN 978-8-120-81408-0.

[3] Mitchiner, Michael (1975). Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coinage. Vol. 2. Sanderstead: Hawkins Publications. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-904-17309-3.

[4] From the dated inscription on the Rukhana reliquary

[5] An Inscribed Silver Buddhist Reliquary of the Time of King Kharaosta and Prince Indravarman, Richard Salomon, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 116, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1996), pp. 442 [1]

[6] A Kharosthī Reliquary Inscription of the Time of the Apraca Prince Visnuvarma, by Richard Salomon, South Asian Studies 11 1995, Pages 27-32, Published online: 09 Aug 2010 [2]