Spalirisos
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
[edit]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
[edit]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][a]
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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Barclay V. Head (1898). Ιστορια Των Νομισματων ητοι Εγχειριδιον Ελληνικης Νομισματικησ. p. 454.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (see also note 20).
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 15.
- ^ Gazerani 2015, pp. 15–16.
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 16 (see also note 18).
- ^ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (note 20).
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 16.
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 16–17.
- ^ a b Gazerani 2015, p. 17.
Sources
[edit]- Gazerani, Saghi (2015). The Sistani Cycle of Epics and Iran's National History: On the Margins of Historiography. BRILL. pp. 1–250. ISBN 9789004282964.
- Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). "East Iran in Late Antiquity". ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–256. ISBN 9781474400305. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctt1g04zr8. (registration required)