Vima Takto or Vima Taktu (Greco-Bactrian: Οοημο Τακτοο, Oēmo Taktoo; Kharosthi: 𐨬𐨅𐨨 𐨟𐨑𐨆Ve-ma Ta-kho, Vema Takho[1]) was a Kushan emperor who reigned c. 80–90 CE.
Bronze coin of Vima Takto, alias "Soter Megas" (r. c. 80–90 CE).
Obv: Bust of Vima Takto, with Greek royal headband and radiate, holding sceptre; three-pronged tamgha behind.
Rev: Mounted king with Greek royal headband, holding a sceptre. Three-pronged tamgha; corrupted Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΩΝ ΣΩΤΗΡ ΜΕΓΑΣ "Basileu Basileuon Soter Megas": "The King of Kings, Great Saviour".
Vima Takto was long known as "The nameless King", since his coins only showed the legend "The King of Kings, Great Saviour", until the discovery of the Rabatak inscription helped connect his name with the title on the coins.
Vima Takto's empire covered northwestern India and Bactria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. During his reign, Kushan embassies were also sent to the Eastern Han imperial court.
"Qiujiuque (Ch: 丘就卻) [Kujula Kadphises] was more than eighty years old when he died. His son, Yangaozhen (Ch:閻高珍) [probably Vema Tahk(tu) or, possibly, his brother Sadaṣkaṇa], became king in his place. He defeated Tianzhu [North-western India] and installed Generals to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang [Kushan] king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi."[2]
The connection of Vima Takto with other Kushan rulers is described in the Rabatak inscription, which was written by Kanishka. Kanishka makes the list of the kings who ruled up to his time: Kujula Kadphises as his great-grandfather, Vima Takto as his grandfather, Vima Kadphises as his father, and himself Kanishka:
"... for King Kujula Kadphises (his) great grandfather, and for King Vima Taktu (his) grandfather, and for King Vima Kadphises (his) father, and *also for himself, King Kanishka" (Cribb and Sims-Williams 1995/6: 80)
A later inscription found at Vima's sanctuary at Mat, also records that he was the grandfather of Huvishka.[3]
A bronze coin of Vima Takto (Soter Megas) from c 80-110AD discovered in Northern Pakistan.Another bronze coin of Vima Takto.
Footnotesedit
^Falk, Harry (2009). The name of Vema Takhtu. W. Sundermann, A. Hintze & F. de Blois (eds.), Exegisti monumenta - Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims-Williams (Iranica, 17). Wiesbaden : Harrassowitz, pp. 105–116.
^Hill (2009), p. 29; also note 13.16, p. 351, and Appendix O, p. 608.
^Allchin, Raymond (2019-06-03). Archaeology of Afghanistan: From Earliest Times to the Timurid Period: New Edition. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN978-1-4744-5047-8.
Referencesedit
Falk, Harry (2009). The name of Vema Takhtu. W. Sundermann, A. Hintze & F. de Blois (eds.), Exegisti monumenta - Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims-Williams (Iranica, 17). Wiesbaden : Harrassowitz, pp. 105–116.
Hill, John E. (2009) Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. BookSurge, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN978-1-4392-2134-1.
Shrava, Satya (1985) The Kushana Numismatics, p 94.
External linksedit
Coins of Vima Takto
Hill, John E. 2004. The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu. Draft annotated English translation.[1]
April 11, 2024
vima, takto, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2012, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Vima Takto news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Vima Takto or Vima Taktu Greco Bactrian Oohmo Taktoo Oemo Taktoo Kharosthi 𐨬 𐨨 𐨟𐨑 Ve ma Ta kho Vema Takho 1 was a Kushan emperor who reigned c 80 90 CE Vima TaktoKushan emperorBronze coin of Vima Takto alias Soter Megas r c 80 90 CE Obv Bust of Vima Takto with Greek royal headband and radiate holding sceptre three pronged tamgha behind Rev Mounted king with Greek royal headband holding a sceptre Three pronged tamgha corrupted Greek legend BASILEY BASILEYWN SWTHR MEGAS Basileu Basileuon Soter Megas The King of Kings Great Saviour Reign80 90 CEPredecessorKujula KadphisesSuccessorVima KadphisesHouseKushan Contents 1 Rule 1 1 Genealogy 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 External linksRule editVima Takto was long known as The nameless King since his coins only showed the legend The King of Kings Great Saviour until the discovery of the Rabatak inscription helped connect his name with the title on the coins Vima Takto s empire covered northwestern India and Bactria towards China where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin During his reign Kushan embassies were also sent to the Eastern Han imperial court Genealogy edit He is mentioned in the Chinese historical chronicle Book of the Later Han in relation to his father Kujula Kadphises Qiujiuque Ch 丘就卻 Kujula Kadphises was more than eighty years old when he died His son Yangaozhen Ch 閻高珍 probably Vema Tahk tu or possibly his brother Sadaṣkaṇa became king in his place He defeated Tianzhu North western India and installed Generals to supervise and lead it The Yuezhi then became extremely rich All the kingdoms call their king the Guishuang Kushan king but the Han call them by their original name Da Yuezhi 2 The connection of Vima Takto with other Kushan rulers is described in the Rabatak inscription which was written by Kanishka Kanishka makes the list of the kings who ruled up to his time Kujula Kadphises as his great grandfather Vima Takto as his grandfather Vima Kadphises as his father and himself Kanishka for King Kujula Kadphises his great grandfather and for King Vima Taktu his grandfather and for King Vima Kadphises his father and also for himself King Kanishka Cribb and Sims Williams 1995 6 80 A later inscription found at Vima s sanctuary at Mat also records that he was the grandfather of Huvishka 3 Preceded byKujula Kadphises Kushan Ruler80 90 CE Succeeded byVima Kadphises nbsp A bronze coin of Vima Takto Soter Megas from c 80 110AD discovered in Northern Pakistan nbsp Another bronze coin of Vima Takto Footnotes edit Falk Harry 2009 The name of Vema Takhtu W Sundermann A Hintze amp F de Blois eds Exegisti monumenta Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims Williams Iranica 17 Wiesbaden Harrassowitz pp 105 116 Hill 2009 p 29 also note 13 16 p 351 and Appendix O p 608 Allchin Raymond 2019 06 03 Archaeology of Afghanistan From Earliest Times to the Timurid Period New Edition Edinburgh University Press ISBN 978 1 4744 5047 8 References editFalk Harry 2009 The name of Vema Takhtu W Sundermann A Hintze amp F de Blois eds Exegisti monumenta Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims Williams Iranica 17 Wiesbaden Harrassowitz pp 105 116 Hill John E 2009 Through the Jade Gate to Rome A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty 1st to 2nd Centuries CE BookSurge Charleston South Carolina ISBN 978 1 4392 2134 1 Shrava Satya 1985 The Kushana Numismatics p 94 External links editCoins of Vima Takto Hill John E 2004 The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu Draft annotated English translation 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vima Takto amp oldid 1186251525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
