Menander I

E445467

Menander I was a prominent 2nd-century BCE Indo-Greek king, renowned for his military conquests in northwestern India and his later depiction as a wise, possibly Buddhist, ruler in classical and Buddhist literature.

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All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Menander I canonical 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Bactrian king
Hellenistic ruler
Indo-Greek king
alsoKnownAs Menander I Soter NERFINISHED
Milinda NERFINISHED
associatedWith Sagala kingdom NERFINISHED
capital Sagala NERFINISHED
Sialkot region
century 2nd century BCE
coinageLanguage Greek
Kharosthi
coinageScript Greek alphabet
Kharosthi script NERFINISHED
coinLegendTitle Basileos Soteros Menandrou NERFINISHED
coinLegendTitleLanguage Greek
culturalContext Greco-Buddhist interaction
deathApproximateDate c. 130 BCE
deathPlaceHypothesis northwestern India NERFINISHED
dialogueWith Nagasena NERFINISHED
dynasty Indo-Greek dynasty NERFINISHED
epithet Soter NERFINISHED
epithetMeaning Savior
historicalDebate extent of his conversion to Buddhism is uncertain
historicalStatus well-attested Indo-Greek ruler
knownFor expansion of Indo-Greek territories
military conquests in northwestern India
patronage or support of Buddhism (traditional view)
legacy important figure in Greco-Buddhist tradition
model of a just and questioning ruler in Buddhist texts
mentionedIn Buddhist literature
Milinda Panha NERFINISHED
classical Greek sources
numismaticEvidence extensive coinage across northwestern India
politicalRole expander of Hellenistic influence in India
portrayedAs philosopher-king
predecessor Apollodotus I NERFINISHED
reignEnd c. 130 BCE
reignStart c. 165 BCE
religiousAssociation Buddhism NERFINISHED
religiousDepiction wise Buddhist ruler
ruledRegion Gandhara NERFINISHED
Punjab NERFINISHED
northwestern Indian subcontinent
parts of Bactria
successor Agathokleia NERFINISHED
Strato I NERFINISHED
title King of the Indo-Greeks

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Indo-Greek Kingdoms notableRuler Menander I