| Telephos Euergetes (the Benefactor) | |
|---|---|
 Obv:Anguipede, the limbs ending in lotus blossoms. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΤΗΛΕΦΟΥ (King Telephus the Benefactor) Rev:Helios radiate andSilene with crescent.Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA KALAKRAMASA TELIPHASA (King Telephus the Benefactor). | |
| Indo-Greek king | |
| Reign | 75–70 BCE |
| Born | Sagala[citation needed] |
Telephus Euergetes (Ancient Greek:Τήλεφος Εὐεργέτης,romanized: Tēlephos Euergetēs;Euergetes means "the Benefactor") was a lateIndo-Greek king who seems to have been one of the weak and brief successors ofMaues. Bopearachchi dates Telephus between 75–70 BCE and places him in Gandhara, Senior to c. 60 BCE and suggests that he ruled in some parts of Pushkalavati or even further west.
Nothing is known about his dynastic connections. His few coins are rather singular and none of them bear his likeness, a rare occurrence in Indo-Greek coinage. Despite his Greek name, Telephus might therefore have been a ruler ofSaka origin. His epithet was also unprecedented.
The silver coinage of Telephus is rare and mostly consists ofdrachms; only a fewtetradrachms are known. On the Greek side is a serpent-footed monster holding the stems of two plants, and on theKharoshthi side two deities that probably should be identified withHelios andSelene, the sun and moon. Both types were unique in the area, though the monster would later appear on bronzes ofHippostratus.
An example of one of his bronzes is seen above, The obverse is the common type of sitting Zeus making a benediction gesture, whereas on the reverse is the unique type of a squatting man holding what on some specimens looks like a spear, on others a palm branch.
Telephus used only two monograms, which he inherited fromMaues.
Telephos overstruck the earlier kingArchebius.
| Preceded byasIndo-Scythian king | Indo-Greek ruler ofGandhara 75–70 BCE | Succeeded byasIndo-Scythian king |