Antimachus I
Encyclopedia
Anthimachus I Theos was one of the Greco-Bactrian kings, generally dated from around 185
to 170 BC
.
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 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 under coins). Antimachos 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:
That Antimachos 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 Antimachos could be his heirs; it was standard by 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 Antimachos was identical with the son of Antimachos I, but it is unclear whether his reign in India overlapped with his father' reign in Bactria.
Antimachos I issued a numerous silver coinage on the Attic standard, with his own image in a flat Macedonian kausia hat, and on the reverse Poseidon
with his triton. 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 Antimachos 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 (see coin description: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=8722&AucID=20&Lot=1111).
Anthimachus 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.
185 BC
Year 185 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Puditanus...
to 170 BC
170 BC
Year 170 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Mancinus and Serranus...
.
Rule
TarnWilliam Woodthorpe Tarn
Sir William Woodthorpe Tarn was a British classical scholar and a writer. He wrote extensively on the Hellenistic world, particularly on Alexander the Great...
and numismatist Robert Senior place Antimachus
Antimachus
Antimachus, of Colophon or Claros, Greek poet and grammarian, flourished about 400 BC.Scarcely anything is known of his life. His poetical efforts were not generally appreciated, although he received encouragement from his younger contemporary Plato .His chief works were: an epic Thebais, an...
as a member of the Euthydemid dynasty and probably as a son of Euthydemus
Euthydemus I
Euthydemus I , Greco-Bactrian king in about 230 or 223 BCE according to Polybius., he is thought to have originally been a Satrap of Sogdiana, who overturned the dynasty of Diodotus of Bactria and became a Greco-Bactrian king. Strabo, on the other hand, correlates his accession with internal...
and brother of Demetrius
Demetrius I of Bactria
Demetrius I was a Buddhist Greco-Bactrian king . He was the son of Euthydemus and succeeded him around 200 BC, after which he conquered extensive areas in what now is eastern Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan thus creating an Indo-Greek kingdom far from Hellenistic Greece...
. Other historians, like Narain
Narain
Narain may refer to:* Narain , Indian actor* A.K. Narain, Indian historian* Narain Karthikeyan, Indian former Formula One and A1GP driver* Nicole Narain, American model and actress* Sunita Narain, Indian environmentalist and political activist...
, 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
Bactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
and probably also Arachosia
Arachosia
Arachosia is the Latinized form of the Greek name of an Achaemenid and Seleucid governorate in the eastern part of their respective empires, around modern-day southern Afghanistan. The Greek term "Arachosia" corresponds to the Iranian land of Harauti which was between Kandahar in Afghanistan and...
in southern Afghanistan (see under coins). Antimachos 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:
That Antimachos would list his own associate kings argues strongly against the suggestion that he was appointed as a Northern associate ruler of Euthydemus
Euthydemus
-People:*Euthydemus , a fleet commander for Athens during the Sicilian Expedition, 415 to 413 BC*Euthydemus, son of Cephalus, mentioned in Plato's Republic...
and Demetrius
Demetrius
Demetrius, also spelled as Demetrios, Dimitrios, Demitri, and Dimitri , is a male given name.Demetrius and its variations may refer to the following:...
, an idea that anyway is more or less unprecedented among Hellenistic kings. Eumenes and Antimachos could be his heirs; it was standard by Ptolemaic
Ptolemaic Kingdom
The Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. It was founded when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt, creating a powerful Hellenistic state stretching from...
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
Antimachus II
Antimachus II Nikephoros "The Victorious" was an Indo-Greek king. He ruled on a vast territory from the Hindu-Kush to the Punjab around 170 BCE. He was almost certainly identical with the eponymous son of Antimachus I, who is known from a unique preserved tax-receipt...
Nikephoros later appeared in India. It seems plausible that the Indian Antimachos was identical with the son of Antimachos I, but it is unclear whether his reign in India overlapped with his father' reign in Bactria.
Coins of Antimachos I
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
with his triton. 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 Antimachos 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
Agathocles of Bactria
Agathocles Dikaios was a Buddhist Indo-Greek king, who reigned between around 190 and 180 BCE. He might have been a son of Demetrius and one of his sub-kings in charge of the Paropamisade between Bactria and India...
, 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 (see coin description: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=8722&AucID=20&Lot=1111).
Anthimachus I also issued round bronzes depicting an elephant on the obverse, with a reverse showing the Greek goddess of victory Nike
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
holding out a wreath. The elephant could be a Buddhist symbol. These coins are reminiscent of those of Demetrius I
Demetrius I of Bactria
Demetrius I was a Buddhist Greco-Bactrian king . He was the son of Euthydemus and succeeded him around 200 BC, after which he conquered extensive areas in what now is eastern Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan thus creating an Indo-Greek kingdom far from Hellenistic Greece...
, as well as Apollodotus I
Apollodotus I
Apollodotus I Soter was an Indo-Greek king between 180 and 160 BCE or between 174 and 165 BCE who ruled the western and southern parts of the Indo-Greek kingdom, from Taxila in Punjab to the areas of Sindh and possibly Gujarat.-Ruler of the Indo-Greek...
.
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.
| Preceded by: Euthydemus II Euthydemus II Euthydemus II was a son of Demetrius I of Bactria, and became king of Bactria in the 180s BCE, either after his father's death or as a sub-king to him. The style and rare nickel alloys of his coins associates him closely in time with the king Agathocles but their precise relation remains uncertain... |
Greco-Bactrian Ruler (Bactria Bactria Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River... ) (185-170 BCE) |
Succeeded by: Eucratides |