Anthimachus I Theos (Greek: Ἀντίμαχος Α΄ ὁ Θεός; known as Antimakha in Indian sources) was believed to have been an illegitimate son of Euthydemus, and one of the Greco-Bactrian kings, generally dated from around 185 BC to 170 BC.
William Woodthorpe Tarn and numismatist Robert Senior place Antimachus as a member of the Euthydemid dynasty and probably as a son of Euthydemus and brother of Demetrius. Other historians, like A.K. Narain, mark him as independent of Euthydemid authority, and probably a scion of some relation to the Diodotid dynasty. He was king of an area covering parts of Bactria and probably also Arachosia in southern Afghanistan (see "Coins of Antimachus I," below). Antimachus I was either defeated during his resistance to the usurper Eucratides, or his main territory was absorbed by the latter upon his death.
Apparently adding to the argument against direct Euthydemid familial connections is a unique tax-receipt that states:
"In the reign of Antimachos Theos and Eumenes and Antimachos... the fourth year, month of Olous, in Asangorna, the guardian of the law being... The tax collector Menodotus, in the presence of... who was also sent out by Demonax, the former... , and of Simus who was... by the agency of Diodorus, controller of revenues, acknowledges receipt from... the son of Dataes from the priests... the dues relating to the purchase."[1]
That Antimachus would list his own associate kings argues strongly against the suggestion that he was appointed as a Northern associate ruler of Euthydemus and Demetrius, an idea that anyway is more or less unprecedented among Hellenistic kings. Eumenes and Antimachus could be his heirs; it was standard for Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings to include their sons as joint regents, with variable formal or actual power. While Eumenes never issued any coins, a king named Antimachus II Nikephoros later appeared in India. It seems plausible that the Indian Antimachus was the son of Antimachus I, but it is unclear whether his reign in India overlapped with his father's reign in Bactria.
Coins of Antimachus Iedit
Silver coin of Antimachus I (171–160 BC). Obv: Bust of Antimachus I. Rev: Depiction of Poseidon, with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΜΑΧΟΥ "of God-King Antimachus".Coin of Antimachus, Cabinet des Médailles, Paris.Coin of Antimachus.Coin of Antimachus I. British Museum.
Antimachus I issued numerous silver coins on the Attic standard, with his own image in a flat Macedonian kausia hat, and on the reverse Poseidon with his trident. Poseidon was the god of the ocean and great rivers - some scholars have here seen a reference to the provinces around the Indus River, where Antimachus I may have been a governor - but also the protector of horses, which was perhaps a more important function in the hinterland of Bactria.
On his coinage, Antimachus called himself Theos, "The God", a first in the Hellenistic world. Just like his colleague Agathocles, he issued commemorative coinage, in his case silver tetradrachms honouring Euthydemus I, also called "The God", and Diodotus I, called "The Saviour". This indicates that Antimachus I might have been instrumental in creating a royal state cult.[2]
Antimachus I also issued round bronzes depicting an elephant on the obverse, with a reverse showing the Greek goddess of victory Nike holding out a wreath. The elephant could be a Buddhist symbol. These coins are reminiscent of those of Demetrius I, as well as Apollodotus I.
Other bronzes, square and rather crude, also portray a walking elephant, but with a reverse of a thunderbolt. These have been attributed by Bopearachchi (as well as older scholars) to Arachosia. They are Indian in their design, but the legend is only in Greek.
Notesedit
^Holt, Frank Lee (2 April 1999). "Thundering Zeus: The Making of Hellenistic Bactria". University of California Press – via Google Books.
^"CoinArchives.com Ancient Coins". www.coinarchives.com.
Referencesedit
The Greek in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press
The Decline of the Indo-Greeks, R. C. Senior and D. MacDonald, Hellenistic Numismatic Society
The Indo-Greeks, A. K. Narain, B.R. Publications
External linksedit
Media related to Antimachus I at Wikimedia Commons
antimachus, anthimachus, theos, greek, Ἀντίμαχος, Θεός, known, antimakha, indian, sources, believed, have, been, illegitimate, euthydemus, greco, bactrian, kings, generally, dated, from, around, portrait, indo, greek, kingreign171, contents, rule, coins, notes. Anthimachus I Theos Greek Ἀntimaxos A ὁ 8eos known as Antimakha in Indian sources was believed to have been an illegitimate son of Euthydemus and one of the Greco Bactrian kings generally dated from around 185 BC to 170 BC Antimachus IPortrait of Antimachus I Indo Greek kingReign171 160 BCE Contents 1 Rule 2 Coins of Antimachus I 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksRule editWilliam Woodthorpe Tarn and numismatist Robert Senior place Antimachus as a member of the Euthydemid dynasty and probably as a son of Euthydemus and brother of Demetrius Other historians like A K Narain mark him as independent of Euthydemid authority and probably a scion of some relation to the Diodotid dynasty He was king of an area covering parts of Bactria and probably also Arachosia in southern Afghanistan see Coins of Antimachus I below Antimachus I was either defeated during his resistance to the usurper Eucratides or his main territory was absorbed by the latter upon his death Apparently adding to the argument against direct Euthydemid familial connections is a unique tax receipt that states nbsp The tax receipt Oxford Ashmolean Museum In the reign of Antimachos Theos and Eumenes and Antimachos the fourth year month of Olous in Asangorna the guardian of the law being The tax collector Menodotus in the presence of who was also sent out by Demonax the former and of Simus who was by the agency of Diodorus controller of revenues acknowledges receipt from the son of Dataes from the priests the dues relating to the purchase 1 That Antimachus would list his own associate kings argues strongly against the suggestion that he was appointed as a Northern associate ruler of Euthydemus and Demetrius an idea that anyway is more or less unprecedented among Hellenistic kings Eumenes and Antimachus could be his heirs it was standard for Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings to include their sons as joint regents with variable formal or actual power While Eumenes never issued any coins a king named Antimachus II Nikephoros later appeared in India It seems plausible that the Indian Antimachus was the son of Antimachus I but it is unclear whether his reign in India overlapped with his father s reign in Bactria Coins of Antimachus I edit nbsp Silver coin of Antimachus I 171 160 BC Obv Bust of Antimachus I Rev Depiction of Poseidon with Greek legend BASILEWS 8EOY ANTIMAXOY of God King Antimachus nbsp Coin of Antimachus Cabinet des Medailles Paris nbsp Coin of Antimachus nbsp Coin of Antimachus I British Museum Antimachus I issued numerous silver coins on the Attic standard with his own image in a flat Macedonian kausia hat and on the reverse Poseidon with his trident Poseidon was the god of the ocean and great rivers some scholars have here seen a reference to the provinces around the Indus River where Antimachus I may have been a governor but also the protector of horses which was perhaps a more important function in the hinterland of Bactria On his coinage Antimachus called himself Theos The God a first in the Hellenistic world Just like his colleague Agathocles he issued commemorative coinage in his case silver tetradrachms honouring Euthydemus I also called The God and Diodotus I called The Saviour This indicates that Antimachus I might have been instrumental in creating a royal state cult 2 Antimachus I also issued round bronzes depicting an elephant on the obverse with a reverse showing the Greek goddess of victory Nike holding out a wreath The elephant could be a Buddhist symbol These coins are reminiscent of those of Demetrius I as well as Apollodotus I Other bronzes square and rather crude also portray a walking elephant but with a reverse of a thunderbolt These have been attributed by Bopearachchi as well as older scholars to Arachosia They are Indian in their design but the legend is only in Greek Notes edit Holt Frank Lee 2 April 1999 Thundering Zeus The Making of Hellenistic Bactria University of California Press via Google Books CoinArchives com Ancient Coins www coinarchives com References editThe Greek in Bactria and India W W Tarn Cambridge University Press The Decline of the Indo Greeks R C Senior and D MacDonald Hellenistic Numismatic Society The Indo Greeks A K Narain B R PublicationsExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Antimachus I at Wikimedia Commons Coins of Antimachus More coins of AntimachusPreceded byEuthydemus II Greco Bactrian King185 170 BCE Succeeded byPantaleon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antimachus I amp oldid 1159763721, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
