The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was established in 250 BC after breaking away from the Seleucid Empire. It expanded further east to establish the Indo-Greek Kingdom around 180 BC. Under rulers like Menander I, Greek and Indian cultures merged, with Greeks adopting Buddhist faith and Indians influenced by Greek architecture, coinage, and language. The merging of cultures had a lasting linguistic and artistic influence on the region.

1. THE
HELLENISTIC
KINGDOM OF
THE EAST
Kelly Rodaway

2. The history of the
Greco- Bactrian and
Indo- Greek
civilizations, is one
which spans over two
centuries.
From 250BC
to
10AD

3. It begins with the Alexander the Great…
Alexander III came to power in 336 BC, reigning over the
Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon. Following in the
aspiration of his father, he led Greece in a pursuit to
conquer Persia (Achaemenid Empire).
It is still, to date, one of the largest empires in the world.
Stretching from the Balkans to the Indus Valley in
southern Pakistan- and Alexander was successful in
conquering it in its entirety.
20+ cities were founded and named in his honour across
the great land mass.

4. Alexandria Ariana
330BC
Modern day Herat,
Afghanistan
Alexandria in Orietai
325BC
Close to the site of
Balochistan, Pakistan
Alexandria, Egypt
331BC
Still maintains its name
to this date

5. Alexander’s Empire amassed to
more than 2 million square miles
after his 13 year reign.
Alexandria ‘Eschate’ was the
most northerly conquered town in
Central Asia, it literally
translates to ‘Alexandria the
Furthest’.
Alexander of Macedon had
many policies in place which
helped with the ‘Hellenization’
of the Persian Empire. The
term is attached to the spread
of Greek culture and language.
This included:
• City- state structures
• Art and Sculptures
• Koine language (colloquial
Greek)
• Literature
• Epicurean Philosophy

6. The
Hellenistic
Period
A major change arose with Alexander’s
death in Babylon, 323BC. The generals
of his Empire divided the great
kingdom up into several smaller ones.
• Ptolemaic Kingdom- Northern Africa
• Seleucid Kingdom- Asia Minor & Palestine
• Antigonid- Greece and Macedonia
Bactria
Under the rule of the Seleucid Empire.
Alexander had founded 8 cities in the Bactria region,
all of whom adopted the Hellenistic culture; even
using the Greek alphabet.
The Greek population in this area was particularly
dense as many citizens of mainland Greece had been
deported during the rule of the Archaemenid
Empire.

7. Diodotus I
Bactria was controlled under the
Seleucid authority until 250 BC.
Diodotus I, a governor of the region,
fought and won the battle against the
great empire.
He gave himself the title of King, but
also ‘Soter’, meaning the saviour of
Bactria.
The Seleucids were far more
concerned with battles with the
Ptolemaic Kingdom in the South.
Giving Bactria an opportunity to
flourish. It quickly began to expand in
size and wealth, becoming known as
the Empire with “a thousand cities”.
Reigned from 255 BC to 239 BC
Diodotus II, the son of the first
King was overthrown by
Euthydemus in 230 BC.

8. Euthydemus
Reigned over Bactria from 230 BC- 195 BC.
He seized power over all of the Hellenistic
communities in the region: including
Alexandria Eschate.
The ‘Euthydemid’ dynasty was the most
important of the Greco- Bactrian Kingdom.
In 208 BC, the ruler of the Seleucid
Kingdom: Antiochus III the Great. Attacked
Euthydemus’ dynasty
Initially the invaders were victorious.
However, the Greco- Bactrian King
retreated to the capital, and after a 3 day
siege, a peace treaty was made.

9. Once allies with the Seleucid Kingdom,
the Greco- Bactrian region had no
competitors and was in a state of peace
for many decades.
They managed to conquer many more
areas of Central Asia which even
Alexander the Great had failed to do.
These new regions became known as
the ‘Indo Greek Kingdom’.

10. While the Greco- Bactrian
state was expanding his
Kingdom further East, an
individual named Eucradites I
seized power in the original
Greco- Bactrian region.
Causing a distinction between
the old and the new territories.
The Indo- Greek Kingdom was officially
established as an individual state from 180 BC,
surviving until 10 AD.
Indo- Greek
Kingdom
(Graeco- Indian)
Menander I the Saviour/ King
Milinda
Regarded as the
most important
ruler of the Indo-
Greeks. His reign
lasted 25 years
beginning in 155
BC.
Despite being a
Greek citizen, he
was educated in
Indian history was
also an advocate of
the Buddhist faith.

11. The merging of
Indian and Greek
cultures
• Menander converted to the Buddhist faith,
unlike the traditional Greek belief of
Hellenism; worshipping multiple Gods.
• Less of a hierarchal system than the Seleucid
and Ptolemaic Kingdoms, Greeks and Indian
civilians lived as equals.
• Their citadel infrastructure in was majorly
influenced by Greek design; carefully
organised, linear streets, crossroads and
squares.
• Corinthian style columns found in India,
adorned with elephants and Buddha carvings.
• Coins inscribed with both Greek language and
Asian ‘Pali’ lingua.

12. Corinthian capitals, discovered in
Jamal- Garhi.

13. Coinage found in Asia
The coin to the left is inscribed in
Greek, while the one of the right in
‘Pali’.
Coins from the reign of Menander I,
depict the goddess Athena.

14. Linguistic Legacy
Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language which dates back 3500 years. It is still widely
used as a ritual language in Buddhist and Hindu religions. Many words of Greek origin
still exist in its vocabulary.
• Ink- Sanskrit: melā, Greek: μέλαν (melan)
• Pen- Sanskrit: kalamo, Greek: κάλαμος (kalamos)
• Book- Sanskrit: pustaka, Greek: πύξινον (puksinon)
• Center- Sanskrit: kendram, Greek: κέντρον (kentron)
• Barbarian- Sanskrit: barbara, Greek: βάρβαρος (barbaros)

15. Yavanajātaka
‘The saying of the Greeks’
An Ancient Greek text translated into Sanskrit,
it explains foundations of western horoscopy.
Which would later have a major effect on Indian
astronomy.
Many references to the Greek’s understanding of
astronomy, their system of planetary Gods and
the importance of eclipses to the Hellenic
population.
The script contains instructions on calculating
horoscopes from the time and place of an
individual’s birth.

16. Representations
of the Buddha
In early Buddhism, the monk/ philosopher/
teacher of the faith aniconic (never shown
in a anthropomorphic state). Instead, the
Buddha had been shown as an empty
throne, as a Bodhi tree or with footsteps.
With the Greco- Buddhist influence,
sculptural, human- like representations of
the Buddha began to appear.
There have also been artefacts found which
depict the Greek God Heracles (Alcides),
the son of Zeus to be in close proximity to
the Buddha- acting as a protector to the
monk.
A combination of Indian iconography on
solid white marble- a typical, and
recognizable medium of the Hellenic
kingdom.