Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

2 .4
members’ is based on the predominance of a particular group of sculptures that share
typological and ethnic features: thick black hair tied and held up by a headband, thick
sideburns, small moustaches, square faces with large, slightly slanted eyes. These
features of this group of sculptures have strong similarities with the depiction of the
ruler on Kushan coins from this period known as ‘Heraeus’.
However, the attribution of the name Heraeus to this group of sculptures may be
incorrect because the legend depicted on these coins has itself been misinterpreted.
The legend on the tetradrachms consists of four words: ΤΥΡΑΝΝΟΥΝΤΟΣ
ΗΙΑΟY ΣΑΝΑΒ ΚΟΡΡΑΝΟΥ, which translates as ‘Of the supreme ruler (Tyrant)
“Heraeus” Sanab Kushan’, where the first word of the legend has been generally
interpreted as a title, the second as a personal name, the third as a personal name
or name of a region, and the fourth as the name of a tribe or dynasty in the genitive.
Taking into account more recent numismatic data, this legend should be read and
understood as follows: the first word is a Greek title, the second is also a title, but not a
local one and possibly Yuezhi, the third word is a nickname (on some coins it is Greek
ANTEIX, on others it is Iranian ΣΑΝΑΒ, but has the same meaning – ‘repeller of the
enemy’), and the fourth word is the personal name ‘Kushan’.
In all likelihood, the ruler who issued the tetradrachms and oboli and founded
the new Yuezhi dynasty was Kushan and not ‘Heraeus’ (which seems somewhat farfetched).
Subsequently, all rulers of the Kushan kingdom, put their founder’s name
on their coins as a mark of respect, just as for many centuries the rulers of the Parthian
state, descended from the nomadic tribe – Parni, retained the name of the founder of
the Parthian dynasty – Arsaces – on the legends of their coins.
The combination of two titles can already be found
on coins from Khorezm from the first centuries AD,
containing MR’Y MLK’(‘lord king’) in the
inscription/legend, and later on Bukharkhudat
coins as xwß k’w, which stands for ‘ruler-king’. The
first two words in the legend on the tetradrachms of
Kushan can be interpreted in the same way.
Another point to consider is that the legends on
the coins minted in the ancient states of Central Asia
up to the 3rd–4th centuries AD did not carry ethnic
and dynastic names, but only the title + name, and
occasionally an honoured nickname, as on Graeco-
Yuezhi head. Clay. Khalchayan. 1st century AD.
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