Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Kind

kingdom

Region

Central Asia, Asia

Objects are filed under the historical authority that actually issued or made them. A recorded period comes from the issuer's own reference description and is left blank where no source states it.

Sorted by date, earliest first.

Cleveland Museum of Art

ancient coins

Tetradrachm Coin of Demetrios I (Cleveland Museum of Art 1999.318)

200–190 BCE

Demetrios I (222–180 BC) ruled the Indo-Greek kingdom of Bactria from 200 to 180 BC and minted this coin to commemorate his conquests over territories to the south, in present-day Pakistan. He linked his image on his coin to Alexander of Macedon (356–323 BC), who depicted himself with a lion scalp after his conquest…

Documented

Partial type record

Cleveland Museum of Art

ancient coins

Coin of Eukratides I (Cleveland Museum of Art 1999.319)

170–145 BCE

After Alexander of Macedon succeeded in conquering Egypt and Persia in 331 BC, his ambition to rule the known world led him further east across Bactria in Afghanistan, through the Hindu Kush mountain pass, and into India. There he succeeded in defeating all the local kings of the region until his men, on the brink o…

Documented

Partial type record

The Cleveland Museum of Art — Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski

ancient coins

Coin of Eukratides I, Afghanistan, Bactria, 170–145 BCE (Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011.211.b)

170–145 BCE

Coin of Eukratides I, Afghanistan, Bactria, 170–145 BCE is an object recorded by Cleveland Museum of Art, dated 170–145 BCE. Museum description: The twins Castor and Pollux were known as the Diosuroi in Greek mythology, and they were the children of Zeus and Leda. Together they also form the constellation Gemini. Th…

Documented

Partial type record

The Cleveland Museum of Art — Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski

ancient coins

Coin of Eukratides I, Afghanistan, Bactria, 170–145 BCE (Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011.211)

170–145 BCE

Eukratides, a successor of Alexander in Bactria, wears a helmet with bull's ear and horn, like military leaders from Macedon, Alexander's homeland in the north of Greece. On the reverse Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus, ride horseback. Because Alexander also was considered to be an offspring of Zeus, Eukratides refer…

Documented

Partial type record

Browse other historical issuers and makers in the Atlas, or read how attributions are made in the editorial method.