Pantaleon | |
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![]() Cupro-nickel coin of Pantaleon. Greek legend reads: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠANTAΛEONTOΣ, "of king Pantaleon." | |
Indo-Greek king | |
Reign | 190–180 BC |
Predecessor | Demetrius I |
Successor | Agathocles |
Died | 180 BCE |
Dynasty | Euthydemid dynasty |
Father | Euthydemus I |
Pantaleon (Ancient Greek:Πανταλέων,Pantaléōn) was a Greek king who reigned some time between 190 and 180 BC inBactria andIndia. He was a younger contemporary or successor of theGreco-Bactrian kingDemetrius, and is sometimes believed to have been his brother and/or subking.
The scarcity of his coinage indicates a short reign. Known evidence suggests that he was replaced by his (probable) brother or sonAgathocles, by whom he was commemorated on a "pedigree" coin.[1]
Some of his coins (as well as those of Agathocles andEuthydemus II) have another surprising characteristic: they are made ofcopper-nickel alloy, a technology that would not be developed in the West until the 18th century (some 1,890 years later), but was known by the Chinese at the time. This suggests that exchanges of the metallic alloy or technicians happened between China and the region of Bactria.[2]
He was the first Greek king to strike Indian coins, peculiar irregular bronzes representing a lion with a dancing Indian woman, probably the goddessLakshmi (a type also known in thePost-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara), which suggests he had his base inArachosia andGandhara and wanted support from the native population.
Preceded by | Indo-Greek Ruler (Arachosia,Gandhara) 190–185 BCE | Succeeded by |