Zeionises

File:Indo-Scythian Zeionises. Circa 45-35 to 5 BCE Uncertain mint in Chukhsa (Chach).jpg

Coin of Zeionises (c. 10 BCE – 10 CE).
Obv: King on horseback holding whip, with bow behind. Corrupted Greek legend MANNOLOU UIOU SATRAPY ZEIONISOU "Satrap Zeionises, son of Manigula". Buddhist Triratna symbol.
Rev: King on the left, receiving a crown from a city goddess holding a cornucopia. Kharoshthi legend MANIGULASA CHATRAPASA PUTRASA CHATRAPASA JIHUNIASA "Satrap Zeionises, son of Satrap Manigul". South Chach mint.

Zeionises (Greek: , (epigraphic); Kharosthi: , , , ;) was an Indo-Scythian satrap.

Name

Zeionises's name appears on his coins in the Greek form () and the Kharosthi form (), and on a silver vase from Taxila in the Kharosthi form (), which are derived from Saka name , meaning "benefactor"

Reign

Zeionises was a satrap of the area of southern Chach for King Azes II.

He then became king, and ruled in parts of the Indian subcontinent around 10 BCE – 10 CE, but apparently lost his territory to the invasion of the Indo-Parthians.

His coins bear the Buddhist Triratna symbol on the obverse, and adopt representations of Greek divinities such as the city goddess Tyche.

A silver jug found at Taxila indicates that Zeionises was the "satrap of Chuksa, son of Manigula, brother of the great king", but who this king was remains uncertain.

File:Indo-Scythian Zeionises. Circa 45-35 to 5 BCE Uncertain mint in Chukhsa (Chach) (2).jpg

Indo-Scythian Zeionises. Circa 45-35 to 5 BCE. Uncertain mint in Chukhsa (Chach)

See also

• Yuezhi
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
• Indo-Greek Kingdom
• Indo-Parthian Kingdom
• Kushan Empire

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) Template:ISBN
• "The Greeks in Bactria and India", W.W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Coins of Zeionises
• Indo-Scythian chronology