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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XVIII.
the existence of more than one ruler Azes-Azilises. As pointed out by Dr. Thomas, Azes is a short form of Azilises. And if we compare the coin legends, we are, I think, led to the concluBion that Azes and Azilises are one and the same person. When we find coins with the legende basleds basileon megalou Azou on the obverse and maharajasa rajarajasa mahatasa Ayilishasa on the reverse, or basileos ... megalon Azilisou on the obverse and maharajasa [rajaraja] sa mahatasa Ayasa on the reverse, the only natural inference from the use of the imperial title on both sides is that we have not to do with more than one ruler.
Nor do I think that there can be any doubt about the nationality of this ruler : he was & Parthian and not a Saks king. That follows, in my opinion, from the coin-legends showing the Dames of Spalirises, Spalahora and Spalagadames. In the first place we have the coins of Spalirises, the king's brother, with the legends basileos adelphou Spalirisou on the obverse and maharajabhrata dhramiasa Spalirisasa on the reverse. Then we find Spalirises associated with Azes, with the legends basileos megalou Spalirisou on the obverse and maharajasa mahatakasa Ayasa on the reverse. Here A zes is associated with Spalirises, but he has not yet assumed the Imperial title. We may infer that he had not yet acquired the power attested by his later legends, and also that he was a Parthian ruler. Finally we find Spalirises designated as basileon basileos megalou Spaliri sou on the obverse and maharajasa mahatakasa Spaliritasa on the reverse. In addition to Spalirises we have Spalahora, alias Spalyris, and his son Spalagadama, whose names are associated with that of the great King of Kings Vonones. There are several coin types and legends : basileðs basiloon megalou Ondnou on the obverse and maharajabhrata dhramikasa Spalahorasa, or Spalahorapatrasa dhramiasa Spalagadamasa on the reverse ; Spalyrios dikaiou adelphou tou basilede on the obverse and Spalahoraputrasa dhramiasa Spala. gadamasa on the reverse.
Numismatista seem to agree in the opinion that Spalirises and Spalahora were both brothers of Vonones, and that the former survived Vonones and succeeded him on the throne. Vonones, on the other hand, is considered to be different from and older than the king Vonones I of Parthia (8-11 A.D.). The name of Spalirises is not, however, anywhere combined with that of Vonones, and I cannot see any obstacle to the assumption that he was an older member of the dynasty, perhaps the father of Azes and the uncle of Vonones, in which case the latter can very well be identical with Vonones I of Parthia.
Acoording to my view, the state of things can accordingly be summarised as follows: Some time after the demise of Mithradates II in 88 B. O., a Saka ruler of Seistän made himself independent, invaded the Indus country and established a new era. According to the Kalakacharyakathanaka the Jaina Kalakacharya applied to the Saka rulers of Sagakala for assistance against King Gardabhilla of Ujjayini, who had abducted his sister, and the result was that the Sakas made themselves masters in Ujjayini, where their rule, according to some well. known memorial stanzas, lasted for four years. They were then ousted by Vikramiditys, who established his own ers. As I have stated elsewhere, I see no reason for disorediting this tradition. The Vikrama era is a national Indian era, established by an Indian ruler to commemorate his victory over the Šakas. And in my opinion it is the first secular era of Indian origin. The oldest certain instance of its use is the Sodāsa inscription of the year 72, and from the fact that the date portion of this record does not make any mention of the paksha but simply mentions the 9th day of the month, we may infor that the calendar was partly arranged according to the principles introduced by the Sakas.
1 J. R. A. 8., 1906, p. 208.
1 Cf. Rapson, 1.c. Pp: 573 f.; R. B. Whitehead, Catalogue of Coins in the Punjab Museum, Labore, Vol I, pp. 91 ff., where further references to the literature about the subject are given.
*Z.D.M. G. 34, pp. 247 f.
•[According to the Prabhavatacharita (IV. 43-44) it is sakhidőta-the country of the Sathis, otherwise called Gabas-lying on the Sindhu in the west.-Ed.] of my remarks, Acta Orientalia, I, p. 88,
• Ep. Ind., XIV, pp. 293 f.
