Tetradrachm - Demetrios II

The reign of Demetrios II in Greco-Baktria and India, as well as his lineage, presents a puzzle, since the timelines of several other rulers, as many as three named Demetrios, seem to intersect and overlap during the mid to late second century BC. It is accepted that Demetrios I, the son of Euthydemos I, reigned circa 220-180 BC and added northern India to his realm by conquest. His portraits do not resemble the Demetrios depicted on this coin, however, nor do the reverse types match up -- the Euthydemid rulers chose Herakles as their reverse type, while this Demetrios uses a standing figure of Athena. Mitchiner and Bopearachchi believed this Demetrios must be the "Demetrius, king of the Indians" mentioned by the Roman historian Justin, whose brief summary of Greco-Baktrian history written in the second century AD are the only near-contemporary record we have of these realms. Justin writes that "Eucratides led many wars with great courage, and, while weakened by them, was put under siege by Demetrius, king of the Indians. He made numerous sorties, and managed to vanquish 60,000 enemies with 300 soldiers, and thus liberated after four months, he put India under his rule" (Epitome XLI, 6). Bopearachichi theorizes that this came at the outset of Eukratides' reign and, indeed, cemented his power in Baktria; thus Demetrios II's reign must terminate circa 171 BC, when Eukratides I's rule commenced. Justin's account, however, is ambiguous as to its timing. In fact the Attic-weight coinage of Demetrios II is of a different style and fabric than that of the Baktrian rulers Demetrios I, Euthydemos II, Agathokles, and Antimachos I, whose reigns precede and overlap that of Eukratides. It more closely resembles the coins of Eukratides' successors, Platon, Eukratides II, and Heliokles I. That would place it toward the end of Eukratides I's reign, rather than the beginning. If this Demetrios is the one mentioned by Justin, the four-month siege and battle must come toward the end of Eukratides I's reign, circa 150-145 BC.