Spalahores | |
---|---|
![]() Silver
tetradrachm minted under
Vonones, with the legend of his name and Spalahores | |
King of Sakastan | |
Reign | 57 BC–??? |
Predecessor | Vonones |
Successor | Spalagadames |
Died | Unknown |
Issue | Spalagadames |
Spalahores, also spelled Spalohres or Spalahora, ( Greek: Σπαλαχόρης Spalakhórēs; Σπαλύρις Spalýris, [1] ϹΠΑΛΥΡΙΟϹ Spalyrios (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨱𐨆𐨪 Śpa-la-ho-ra, Śpalahora; [2] ruled circa 57-35 BCE), was an Iranian king who ruled Sakastan in the 1st-century BC.
Spalahores's name is attested on his coins in the Greek forms Spalakhórēs ( Σπαλαχόρης) and Spalýris ( Σπαλύρις), [1] and in the Kharosthi form Śpalahora ( 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨱𐨆𐨪), [2] which are derived from the Saka name *Spalahaura, meaning "commander of the army". [3]
Before his rise to kingship, he served as a commander of his predecessor, Vonones, who had minted coins with his name and that of another commander, Spalirisos, who are both referred to as "brother of the king". [4] Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Khodadad Rezakhani consider Spalahores and Spalirisos to indeed be Vonones' brothers, [5] [6] while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be Saka satraps. [7] [a]
A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having Saka names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name. [9] Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124–115 BC), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BC) and Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages. [10] Indeed, Parthians and Sakas are often mixed up in Indian literature. [11] The mythological Iranian hero Rostam (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity. [11]
Spalahores' son and successor, Spalagadames, has been suggested by Rezakhani to be the same figure as the first Indo-Parthian king Gondophares ( r. 19–46 CE). [12]