Azilises

Indo-Scythian king

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

Indo-Scythian kings, territories and chronology (in green)

Territories/ dates	Western India	Western Pakistan Balochistan	Paropamisadae Arachosia	Bajaur	Gandhara	Western Punjab	Eastern Punjab	Mathura
			INDO-GREEK KINGDOM
90–85 BCE			Nicias	Menander II		Artemidoros
90–70 BCE			Hermaeus	Archebius
85-60 BCE			INDO-SCYTHIAN KINGDOM Maues
75–70 BCE			Vonones Spalahores	Telephos		Apollodotus II
65–55 BCE			Spalirises Spalagadames			Hippostratos	Dionysios
55–35 BCE			Azes I				Zoilos II
55–35 BCE			Azilises Azes II				Apollophanes	Indo-Scythian dynasty of the NORTHERN SATRAPS Hagamasha
25 BCE – 10 CE				Indo-Scythian dynasty of the APRACHARAJAS Vijayamitra (ruled 12 BCE - 15 CE)^{[n 1]}	Liaka Kusulaka Patika Kusulaka Zeionises	Kharahostes (ruled 10 BCE– 10 CE)^{[n 2]} Mujatria	Strato II and Strato III	Hagana
10-20 CE		INDO-PARTHIAN KINGDOM Gondophares		Indravasu	INDO-PARTHIAN KINGDOM Gondophares		Rajuvula
20-30 CE			Ubouzanes Pakores	Vispavarma (ruled c.0-20 CE)^{[n 3]}	Sarpedones		Bhadayasa	Sodasa
30-40 CE			KUSHAN EMPIRE Kujula Kadphises	Indravarma	Abdagases		...	...
40-45 CE				Aspavarma	Gadana		...	...
45-50 CE				Sasan	Sases		...	...
50-75 CE							...	...
75-100 CE	Indo-Scythian dynasty of the WESTERN SATRAPS Chastana		Vima Takto				...	...
100-120 CE	Abhiraka		Vima Kadphises				...	...
120 CE	Bhumaka Nahapana	PARATARAJAS Yolamira	Kanishka I				Great Satrap Kharapallana and Satrap Vanaspara for Kanishka I
130-230 CE	Jayadaman Rudradaman I Damajadasri I Jivadaman Rudrasimha I Satyadaman Jivadaman Rudrasena I	Bagamira Arjuna Hvaramira Mirahvara	Vāsishka (c. 140 – c. 160) Huvishka (c. 160 – c. 190) Vasudeva I (c. 190 – to at least 230)
230-280 CE	Samghadaman Damasena Damajadasri II Viradaman Isvaradatta Yasodaman I Vijayasena Damajadasri III Rudrasena II Visvasimha	Miratakhma Kozana Bhimarjuna Koziya Datarvharna Datarvharna	INDO-SASANIANS Ardashir I, Sassanid king and "Kushanshah" (c. 230 – 250) Peroz I, "Kushanshah" (c. 250 – 265) Hormizd I, "Kushanshah" (c. 265 – 295)			Kanishka II (c. 230 – 240) Vashishka (c. 240 – 250) Kanishka III (c. 250 – 275)
280-300 CE	Bhratadarman	Datayola II	Hormizd II, "Kushanshah" (c. 295 – 300)			Vasudeva II (c. 275 – 310)
300-320 CE	Visvasena Rudrasimha II Jivadaman		Peroz II, "Kushanshah" (c. 300 – 325)			Vasudeva III Vasudeva IV Vasudeva V Chhu (c. 310? – 325)
320-388 CE	Yasodaman II Rudradaman II Rudrasena III Simhasena Rudrasena IV		Shapur II Sassanid king and "Kushanshah" (c. 325) Varhran I, Varhran II, Varhran III "Kushanshahs" (c. 325 – 350) Peroz III "Kushanshah" (c. 350 –360) HEPHTHALITE/ HUNAS invasions			Shaka I (c. 325 – 345) Kipunada (c. 345 – 375)		GUPTA EMPIRE Chandragupta I Samudragupta
388-395 CE	Rudrasimha III		Chandragupta II

^ From the dated inscription on the Rukhana reliquary
^ 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]
^ 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]