Menander II
# Menander II

Menander II Dikaios (Greek: Μένανδρος Β΄ ὁ Δίκαιος; epithet means "the Just") may have been an Indo-Greek King who ruled in the areas of Arachosia and Gandhara in the north of modern Pakistan. However, since he is entirely known through his coins, this may have just been a separate set of coins issued by Menander I with a different epithet.

## Time of reign

Bopearachchi has suggested that Menander II reigned c. 90–85 BC, whereas R. C. Senior has suggested c. 65 BC. In that case, Menander II ruled remaining Indo-Greek territories in Gandhara after the invasion of Maues.

## Relations to other kings

Menander II Dikaios may have belonged to the dynasty of Menander I Soter, the greatest of the Indo-Greek kings. It was long believed that there was only one king named Menander (see discussion under Menander I) as their portraits were rather similar and Menander II seems to have been a devout Buddhist, just as Menander I was, according to the ancient Buddhist scripture the Milindapanha.

On the other hand, the name Menander could well have been popular in the Indo-Greek kingdom, and the coins of Menander II are not very like those of Menander I nor of those other kings (such as Strato I) who are believed to have belonged to his dynasty. R. C. Senior links Menander II with the Indo-Greek king Amyntas, with whom he shares several monograms and also facial features such as a pointed nose and receding chin. He also suggests a close relation to the semi-Scythian king Artemidorus, son of Maues, since their coins use similar types and are often found together.

There is a small possibility that Menander II, rather than Menander I, is actually the Buddhist Greek king referred to in the Milinda Panha. This point is unsolved however, since Greek sources (Plutarch (Praec. reip. ger. 28, 6)) relate that the great conqueror Menander I is the one who received the honour of burial in what could be interpreted as Buddhist stupas.

More likely, Menander I may indeed have first supported Buddhism, like the other Indo-Greek kings, and was probably the protagonist of the Milindapanha, on account of his described fame, whereas Menander II, a minor king, may have wholeheartedly embraced Buddhism, as exemplified by his coins.

## Coins of Menander II

The coins of Menander II bear the mention "Menander the Just", and "King of the Dharma" in Kharoshti, suggesting that he adopted the Buddhist faith. Menander II struck only Indian silver. These depict the king in diadem or helmet of the type of Menander I, with a number of reverses: a king on horseback, Nike and a sitting Zeus of the type of Antialkidas and Amyntas Nikator, but with an eight-spoked Buddhist wheel instead of the small elephant.

His bronzes feature Athena standing, with spear and palm-branch, shield at her feet, making a benediction gesture with the right hand, similar to the Buddhist vitarka mudra. Other varieties feature a king performing the same gesture.

On the reverse is a lion, symbol of Buddhism, as also seen on the pillars of the Mauryan King Ashoka. In general, the coins of Menander II are quite few, which tends to indicate a rather small rule.

A contemporary king to represent the Buddhist lion on his coins is the Indo-Scythian king Maues, around 85 BC.

* Menander II as a spearholder.
* Menander II riding horse.
* Indian standard coin with Nike making a blessing gesture and seated lion.
* With Herakles crowning himself, and palms and piloi of the Dioskouroi.

vteGreco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kings, territories and chronology :

Based on Bopearachchi (1991) :

Greco-Bactrian kings

Indo-Greek kings

Territories/ datesWest BactriaEast BactriaParopamisade ArachosiaGandharaWestern PunjabEastern PunjabMathura

326-325 BCE

Campaigns of Alexander the Great in India

Nanda Empire

312 BCE

Creation of the Seleucid Empire

Creation of the Maurya Empire

305 BCE

Seleucid Empire after Mauryan war

Maurya Empire

280 BCE

Foundation of Ai-Khanoum

255–239 BCE

Independence of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom Diodotus I

Emperor Ashoka (268-232)

239–223 BCE

Diodotus II

230–200 BCE

Euthydemus I

200–190 BCE

Demetrius I

Sunga Empire

190-185 BCE

Euthydemus II

190–180 BCE

Agathocles

Pantaleon

185–170 BCE

Antimachus I

180–160 BCE

Apollodotus I

175–170 BCE

Demetrius II

160–155 BCE

Antimachus II

170–145 BCE

Eucratides I

155–130 BCE

Yuezhi occupation, loss of Ai-Khanoum

Eucratides II Plato Heliocles I

Menander I

130–120 BCE

Yuezhi occupation

Zoilus I

Agathoclea

Yavanarajya inscription

120–110 BCE

Lysias

Strato I

110–100 BCE

Antialcidas

Heliocles II

100 BCE

Polyxenus

Demetrius III

100–95 BCE

Philoxenus

95–90 BCE

Diomedes

Amyntas

Epander

90 BCE

Theophilus

Peucolaus

Thraso

90–85 BCE

Nicias

Menander II

Artemidorus

90–70 BCE

Hermaeus

Archebius

Yuezhi occupation

Maues (Indo-Scythian)

75–70 BCE

Vonones

Telephus

Apollodotus II

65–55 BCE

Spalirises

Hippostratus

Dionysius

55–35 BCE

Azes I (Indo-Scythians)

Zoilus II

55–35 BCE

Vijayamitra/ Azilises

Apollophanes

25 BCE – 10 CE

Gondophares

Zeionises

Kharahostes

Strato II Strato III

Gondophares (Indo-Parthian)

Rajuvula (Indo-Scythian)

Kujula Kadphises (Kushan Empire)

Bhadayasa (Indo-Scythian)

Sodasa (Indo-Scythian)

↑ O. Bopearachchi, "Monnaies gréco-bactriennes et indo-grecques, Catalogue raisonné", Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 1991, p.453↑ Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2 April 2019). "History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE". BRILL – via Google Books. :

