Coin of Spalirises as King of Kings

Spalirisos, also spelled Spalirises, (Greek: Σπαλιρίσης Spalirísēs,[1] ϹΠΑΛΙΡΙϹΟΥ Spalirisou (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭 Śpa-li-ri-śa, Śpaliriśa[2]) was an Iranian king who ruled Arachosia in the 1st century BCE.[3]

Name

Spalarisos's name is attested on his coins in the Greek form Spalirísēs (Σπαλιρίσης)[1] and in the Kharosthi form Śpaliriśa (𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭),[2] which are derived from the Saka name *Spalarīźa, meaning "in command of army".[4]

Career

Before his rise to kingship, he served as a commander of Vonones of Sakastan, who had minted coins with his name and that of another commander, Spalahores, who are both referred to as "brother of the king".[5] Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Khodadad Rezakhani consider Spalirisos and Spalahores to indeed be Vonones' brothers,[6][3] while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be Saka satraps.[7][lower-alpha 1]

A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having Saka names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name.[9] Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124–115 BC), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BC) and Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages.[10] Indeed, Parthians and Sakas are often mixed up in Indian literature.[11] The mythological Iranian hero Rostam (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Rezakhani has additionally suggested that Spalahores may simply have been a military title used by Vonones.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Barclay V. Head (1898). Ιστορια Των Νομισματων ητοι Εγχειριδιον Ελληνικης Νομισματικησ. p. 454.
  2. 1 2 Gardner, Percy (1929). The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum. London: Gilbert & Rivington Ltd. pp. 100-101. ISBN 978-0-900-83452-3.
  3. 1 2 Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (see also note 20).
  4. ↑ 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. 410. ISBN 978-8-120-81408-0.
  5. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 15.
  6. ↑ Gazerani 2015, pp. 15–16.
  7. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 16 (see also note 18).
  8. ↑ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (note 20).
  9. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 16.
  10. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 16–17.
  11. 1 2 Gazerani 2015, p. 17.

Sources

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