Agathoclea

Agathoclea
Coin of Agathokleia
Indo-Greek Queen regent
Reign130-120 BCE
SuccessorStrato I
Bornc. 155 BC
Bactria
Diedc.100 BCE
Sagala
Burial
Stupas in Gandhara
SpouseMenander I
IssueStrato I
DynastyIndo-Greek Kingdom
Drachm of Agathoclea. The obverse with the queen's portrait and Greek inscription: BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ ΘEOTPOΠOY AΓAΘOKΛEIAΣ, Basilissēs Theotropou Agathokleias, "Of the Goddess-like queen Agathoclea". Reverse with Strato I standing in armour, and Kharosthi legend: Maharajasa Tratarasa Stratasa Agathukreya, "Of Saviour King Strato and Agathoclea."
Coin of Strato I and Agathoclea. Obverse with the conjugate busts of Strato and Agathoclea, and Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΙΑΣ, Basileōs Sōtēros Stratōnos Kai Agathokleias, "Of Saviour King Strato, and Agathoclea". Reverse with Athena Alkidemos throwing thunderbolt, and Kharosthi legend: Maharajasa Tratasara Dharmikasa Stratasa, "Of King Strato, the Saviour and Just (i.e. "of the Dharma")".
Coin of Agathoclea. Obverse with Agathoclea in profile. Reverse with the Greek straight bow and arrow container.

Agathoclea Theotropus (Ancient Greek: Ἀγαθόκλεια Θεότροπος, romanizedAgathokleia Theotropos; the epithet possibly means the Goddess-like) was an Indo-Greek queen married to Menander I, who ruled in parts of northern India in the 2nd-century BC as regent for her son Strato I. Born in Bactria, likely to a noble family (probably royal) with some authors such as Tarn alleging she was a daughter of Eucratides,[1] however this is uncertain and Tarn is often criticised by modern authors for casually creating dynastic relationships. Nonetheless, Agathoclea would become one of the first woman ruler in the Hellenistic world, and she seems to have been relatively significant due to her large presence on the coins of Strato I.

  1. ^ Tarn, W.W. The Greeks in Bactria and India. Cambridge University Press.

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