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MauesMaues (reigned circa 85-60 BCE) was an Indo-Scythian king who invaded the Indo-Greek territories of modern Pakistan. Conqueror of Gandhara Maues had his capital in Sirkap and minted most of his coins in Taxila. Maues did not manage however to conquer the Punjab territories of the Indo-Greeks east of the Jhelum, which remained under Greek control until well after his death and until the reign of king Hippostratos. Maues is mainly known through his coins, which are often very closely inspired from Indo-Greek coinage. He represented Greek and Indian deities, and used Greek and Kharoshti in coin legends. This tends to be indicative of a level of respect for Greek culture and a wish to assimilate it, rather than destroy it. Maues probably ruled his conquered territories based on his military might, but otherwise maintained cohabitation with local Greek and Indian communities. Maues took the tile of "King of Kings" imitating a traditional Parthian royal title. Maues and Buddhism A few of the coins of Maues, struck according to the Indian square standard, seamingly depict a King in a cross-legged seated position. This may represent Maues himself, or possibly one of his divinities. It has been suggested that this might also be one of the first representations of the Buddha on a coin, in an area where Buddhism was flourishing at the time. Also, Maues struck some coins incorporating Buddhist symbolism, such as the one representing Herakles with a club resting on his arm (the protector deity of the Indo-Greek king Demetrius, called "Friend of the Dharma" by Indians, and whose invasion of India had saved Buddhism from persecution, which was also adopted as the protector deity of the Buddha in Greco-Buddhist art), and the lion, symbol of Buddhism since the time of the Mauryan king Ashoka. The symbolism of the lion had also been adopted by the Buddhist Indo-Greek king Menander II. Maues therefore probably supported Buddhism, although whether sincerely or for political motives is unclear. His coins also included a variety of other religious symbol such as the cow of Shiva, indicating wide religious tolerance. See also External links References - "The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies" by Thomas McEvilley (Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, 2002) ISBN 1581152035
- "The Greeks in Bactria and India", W.W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press.
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