Antialcidas Nikephoros (Ancient Greek: Ἀντιαλκίδας ὁ Νικηφόρος; epithet means "the Victorious", Brahmi: 𑀅𑀁𑀢𑀮𑀺𑀓𑀺𑀢𑀲Aṃtalikitasa, in the Heliodorus Pillar) was a king of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, who reigned from his capital at Taxila. Bopearachchi has suggested that he ruled from ca. 115 to 95 BCE in the western parts of the Indo-Greek realms, whereas R. C. Senior places him around 130 to 120 BCE and also in eastern Punjab (which seems better supported by coin findings). Senior does however believe that he ruled in tandem with King Lysias.
130–120 BCE (R. C. Senior) 115–95 BCE (Boppearachchi)
Silver tetradrachm of King Antialcidas. Obv: Bust of Antialcidas wearing aegis and holding a spear, with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΑΛΚΙΔΟΥ "Of Victorious King Antialcidas". Rev:Zeus with lotus-tipped sceptre, in front of an elephant with a bell (symbol of Taxila), surmouted by Nike holding a wreath, crowning the elephant. Kharoshti legend: MAHARAJASA JAYADHARASA ANTIALIKITASA "Victorious King Antialcidas". Pushkalavati mint.
Antialcidas may have been a relative of the Greco-Bactrian king Heliocles I, but ruled after the fall of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom. Several later kings may have been related to Antialcidas: Heliokles II, Amyntas, Diomedes and Hermaeus all struck coins with similar features.
Inscription on the Heliodorus pillar made by Antialcidas' Ambassador Heliodorus in 110 BCE.
Though there are few sources for the late Indo-Greek history, Antialcidas is known from an inscription left on a pillar (the Heliodorus pillar), which was erected by his ambassador Heliodorus at the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra at Vidisha, near Sanchi. It states that he was a devotee of Vishnu, the Hindu god.[1]
A part of the inscription says:
"This Garuda-standard was made by order of the Bhagavata ... Heliodoros, the son of Dion, a man of Taxila, a Greek ambassador from King Antialkidas, to King Bhagabhadra, the son of the Princess from Benares, the saviour, while prospering in the fourteenth year of his reign."[1]
Coins
Silver drachm of King Antialcidas. Obv: Bust of Antialcidas wearing a helmet, with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΑΛΚΙΔΟΥ "Of Victorious King Antialcidas". Rev: Seated Zeus holding sceptre, with Nike on his extended arm, holding out a wreath to a baby elephant with bell. Kharoshti legend: MAHARAJASA JAYADHARASA ANTIALIKITASA "Victorious King Antialcidas".
Otherwise, Antialcidas is also known through his plentiful coins. He issued a number of bilingual Indian silver types: diademed, wearing a helmet with bull's horns or a flat kausia. He also appears throwing a spear. According to some interpretations (Grousset), the baby elephant may symbolize the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, who took the shape of a small elephant to enter the womb of his mother Queen Maya, a scene often depicted in Greco-Buddhist art. In that case the coin scene would represent a victory of Buddhism. According to other interpretations the elephant was the symbol of the city of Taxila.
"Mule coins" (overstrikes)
Antialcidas wearing the kausia, with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΑΛΚΙΔΟΥ "Of Victorious King Antialcidas" Japan Currency Museum.
Gandhara seal of king on elephant receiving wreath of victory, a motif with some similarity to the coins of Antialcidas.
There is a bronze which features the obverse of Lysias and the reverse of Antialcidas. This was interpreted by Tarn and other earlier scholars as though the two kings might have forged some kind of alliance, but later, a bronze with the opposite arrangement was found.
Modern scholarship has however largely accepted that what was originally supposed to be a "joint issue" was in fact a mule; in other words, a mistake occurred in the process of overstriking the original coin, and it was accidentally issued with both king's standards.
Antialkidas with Zeus directly giving wreath of victory to the elephant. With Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΑΛΚΙΔΟΥ "Of Victorious King Antialcidas"
References
^ abGreek Culture in Afghanistan and India: Old Evidence and New Discoveries Shane Wallace, 2016, p.222-223
Sources
The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies by Thomas McEvilley (Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, 2002) ISBN1-58115-203-5
Buddhism in Central Asia by B. N. Puri (Motilal Banarsidass, January 1, 2000) ISBN81-208-0372-8
The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.
The Indo-Greeks, A. K. Narain, B.R Publications
The Decline of the Indo-Greeks, R. C. Senior & D. MacDonald, the Hellenistic Numismatic Society
antialcidas, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2016, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, nik. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Antialcidas Nikephoros Ancient Greek Ἀntialkidas ὁ Nikhforos epithet means the Victorious Brahmi 𑀅 𑀢𑀮 𑀓 𑀢𑀲 Aṃtalikitasa in the Heliodorus Pillar was a king of the Indo Greek Kingdom who reigned from his capital at Taxila Bopearachchi has suggested that he ruled from ca 115 to 95 BCE in the western parts of the Indo Greek realms whereas R C Senior places him around 130 to 120 BCE and also in eastern Punjab which seems better supported by coin findings Senior does however believe that he ruled in tandem with King Lysias Antialcidas Nikephoros Victorious Portrait of AntialcidasIndo Greek kingReign130 120 BCE R C Senior 115 95 BCE Boppearachchi Silver tetradrachm of King Antialcidas Obv Bust of Antialcidas wearing aegis and holding a spear with Greek legend BASILEWS NIKHFOROY ANTIALKIDOY Of Victorious King Antialcidas Rev Zeus with lotus tipped sceptre in front of an elephant with a bell symbol of Taxila surmouted by Nike holding a wreath crowning the elephant Kharoshti legend MAHARAJASA JAYADHARASA ANTIALIKITASA Victorious King Antialcidas Pushkalavati mint Contents 1 Genealogy 2 The Heliodorus inscription 3 Coins 4 Mule coins overstrikes 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksGenealogy EditAntialcidas may have been a relative of the Greco Bactrian king Heliocles I but ruled after the fall of the Greco Bactrian kingdom Several later kings may have been related to Antialcidas Heliokles II Amyntas Diomedes and Hermaeus all struck coins with similar features The Heliodorus inscription EditMain article Heliodorus pillar Inscription on the Heliodorus pillar made by Antialcidas Ambassador Heliodorus in 110 BCE Though there are few sources for the late Indo Greek history Antialcidas is known from an inscription left on a pillar the Heliodorus pillar which was erected by his ambassador Heliodorus at the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra at Vidisha near Sanchi It states that he was a devotee of Vishnu the Hindu god 1 A part of the inscription says This Garuda standard was made by order of the Bhagavata Heliodoros the son of Dion a man of Taxila a Greek ambassador from King Antialkidas to King Bhagabhadra the son of the Princess from Benares the saviour while prospering in the fourteenth year of his reign 1 Coins Edit Silver drachm of King Antialcidas Obv Bust of Antialcidas wearing a helmet with Greek legend BASILEWS NIKHFOROY ANTIALKIDOY Of Victorious King Antialcidas Rev Seated Zeus holding sceptre with Nike on his extended arm holding out a wreath to a baby elephant with bell Kharoshti legend MAHARAJASA JAYADHARASA ANTIALIKITASA Victorious King Antialcidas Otherwise Antialcidas is also known through his plentiful coins He issued a number of bilingual Indian silver types diademed wearing a helmet with bull s horns or a flat kausia He also appears throwing a spear According to some interpretations Grousset the baby elephant may symbolize the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama who took the shape of a small elephant to enter the womb of his mother Queen Maya a scene often depicted in Greco Buddhist art In that case the coin scene would represent a victory of Buddhism According to other interpretations the elephant was the symbol of the city of Taxila Mule coins overstrikes Edit Antialcidas wearing the kausia with Greek legend BASILEWS NIKHFOROY ANTIALKIDOY Of Victorious King Antialcidas Japan Currency Museum Lysias was a contemporary of Antialcidas Gandhara seal of king on elephant receiving wreath of victory a motif with some similarity to the coins of Antialcidas There is a bronze which features the obverse of Lysias and the reverse of Antialcidas This was interpreted by Tarn and other earlier scholars as though the two kings might have forged some kind of alliance but later a bronze with the opposite arrangement was found Modern scholarship has however largely accepted that what was originally supposed to be a joint issue was in fact a mule in other words a mistake occurred in the process of overstriking the original coin and it was accidentally issued with both king s standards Antialkidas with Zeus directly giving wreath of victory to the elephant With Greek legend BASILEWS NIKHFOROY ANTIALKIDOY Of Victorious King Antialcidas References Edit a b Greek Culture in Afghanistan and India Old Evidence and New Discoveries Shane Wallace 2016 p 222 223Sources EditThe 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 Buddhism in Central Asia by B N Puri Motilal Banarsidass January 1 2000 ISBN 81 208 0372 8 The Greeks in Bactria and India W W Tarn Cambridge University Press The Indo Greeks A K Narain B R Publications The Decline of the Indo Greeks R C Senior amp D MacDonald the Hellenistic Numismatic SocietyExternal links EditCoins of Antialcidas More coins of Antialcidas Catalog of the coins of AntialcidasPreceded byLysias Indo Greek king in Paropamisadae Arachosia Gandhara 115 95 BC Succeeded byPolyxenios or Philoxenus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antialcidas amp oldid 1054485692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
