Indian Antiquary Vol 09

SR No.: 032501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 313

OCTOBER, 1880.]
BOOK NOTICES.
261
Yndopheres, Gondopharos, &c. and historically resembling the Arsakides, BACIAEWCBACIA ON quite coinciding with the above was discovered METO (sic) YNAO EPHCAYTO«PATO, Sitting king, by English scholars in a source, the utilisation resembling the type of the Arsakides, but in the of which for the study of ancient history had | raised R. a kind of short sceptre (elephant goad P) : probably not been noticed before. It is astonish- behind him a wingless Niko, garlanding him. ing that this most interesting discovery has "Drachm of tolerably good silver, of the weight apparently scarcely been noticed (Lassen for of Arsakidan drachms. Unique of the Berlin instance passes it over entirely).
museum, from the unascertained Guthrie collec“The collection of legends, the so-called Legenda tion. The title Autokrator is first borne by Aurea or Historia Lombardica, arranged in the 13th Tryphon of Syria, but then also by an Arsakidan century by the Genoese bishop Jacobus & Vora- on his drachmas, according to Prokesch the VIIIth gine, mentions the Indian Mission of the apostle Artaban II, according to Gardner the Xth Thomas as follows (cap. V. p. 33 ed. Graesse,
Sinatroikes. 1846):-"Thomas apostolus cum esset apud Cæ- "Æ. 4-5 The king on horseback, 1, receive saream apparuit ei Dominus dicens : rex India ing a garland from the Nike who stands before Gundoferus misit præpositum Abbanem him. Symbol once a small cross in it. One quærere hominem architectoria arte eruditum."- or two Aryan monogrums. Berlin. Wilson, Ariana, Thomas follows the call of the Lord, goes as Plate VI, 2, and Plate XXI, 16. architect to India, and builds a palace for the "The circumscription of the obverse of one of king. He is to be killed because he distributes Wilson's specimens is totally destroyed. the treasures of the king among the poor, but "The second of Wilson's coins has plainly on the the king's heart is softened by his brother Gad obverse above Aror, hence the end of the name, who had been resuscitated from the dead, and the METAAOY may be seen on the drawing (on ho humbles himself before the apostle. The the right) like Mrady, then roH. The rol (yov apostlo preaches the gospel, and then betakes not you cannot however belong to the ... pápov himself 'in superiorem Indiam.' The very pre- because two or at least one line intervenes. sence of the apostle Thomas in India has been Prinsep-Thomas (vol. II, pp. 215, 4) read BACIAEO doubted, but such questions do not concern me; .. APOY (?). but this medieval collector of legends gives facts, "The Berlin specimen displays only indistinct credibly and faithfully culled by him from ancient traces of a circumscription on the chief side. sources in his possession, not so much events as "The reverse of the first of Wilson's specimens the diplomatically correct mention of the name of he reads mahdrdja (rdjardjasa) miramatasa; the the king, who, as the coins at any rate appear drawing does not quite agree with this. certainly to imply, reigned during the time of the "The reverse of the second better specimen of apostles, consequently in the 1st century A. D. Wilson has Gudapharasa plainly. The preced(Inscription of Tukht-Bahi) during many years, ing word is indistinct-Wilson : jayadharasa, till the middle of the second half of it, demonstrat- Prinsep-Thomas: ja .... sa before apratihatasa ing, or at least making very probable, a remark- plainly, preceded according to Wilson's text and able connection of this Indian king with the first drawing certainly by dhamikasa. Prinsep-Thomas propagators of Christianity. How else could the read only: maha ... dhaga ... 8. name of an Indian king, who was so remote and be- | “Dhamikasa apratihatasa gudapharasa appears yond the pale of all civilisation, have become so also to be certain. The Berlin specimen has below correctly known to the first legend writers ? certainly the name gudopha .. The circumscrip
"Further conclusions about those matters per- tion begins on the right, and we perceive with meated by myths, or perhaps entirely mythical, tolerable distinctness mahdrijasa rdjardjasa. are unreliable; that monuments however and "The round billon and copper-coins of Yndolegendary reports agree so perfectly in expressing pheres, with riders and variously changing orthothe time and the name, is distinctly to be pointed graphy of the name, as well as the often spoiled out just by those who seek to investigate the circumscription of both sides, are evidently like the history of these regions critically, and so purify it similar ones of Azes, deteriorated tetradrachms. from useless conjectures evolved from nothing." "Bill. 6. BACIAEWN BACIAEWN TONAOPATAY, A few of the coins he gives are :
The king on horseback, bearded, garland in the "Æ. 4. Bearded bust with diadem in rich dress, R. R. the symbol 8. Mahardjardjardja mahatasa
. E. Thoma, to whom we are indebted for the notice on the legend (Prinsep, Essays, vol. II, p. 914) places the king earlior: but I have shown wby be must belong to the 1st cent. A.D.
I scarcely need warn the reader of the fantastic explanations of this symbol which contains & garland and Scross of the ancient form T, as well as the oft recurring other cuneiform symbols on the coins of this king: