Gondophares
Gondophares I. ( Gudapharasa on his coins ) was an Indo - Parthian king.
He is considered the founder of the Indo- Parthian kingdom, and was probably a local Parthian prince before he became king. Gondophares reigned from 20 AD to about 50 AD Gondophares n is only of coins and an inscription from Takht -i - Bahi known ( this locality of the inscription is not quite sure ), where he appears as Maharaja Guduvhara. In this inscription a 26th year of reign is attested. This year falls in the year 103 an unnamed era, but probably that of the Indo- Scythian ruler Azes I, which is known as Vikrama era. This era begins in 57 BC, bringing the beginning of the reign of Gondophares can be calculated accurately to 20 AD. The inscription has a dedication on the part of a local nobleman to content, but also called a prince Kapa ( erjhuna capacity ), which is perhaps to be identified with the first Kuschanherrscher Kujula Kadphises.
The capital of Gondophares was Taxila in modern Pakistan. On the basis of coin finds can be assumed that he ruled the Punjab and the valley of Kabul. On his coins, which he coined in silver and copper, it bears the title Hellenistic Emperor. They show Greek (eg, Nike or Pallas ), but also Indian deities, like Shiva. The coins can be divided into three groups. From Sistan submitted pieces of silver in a typical Parthian format. To view the image of the ruler on the front and on the back of the ruler appears enthroned with Victoria, who crowns him. Coins from Taxila show on the back of Zeus or Athena. Imprints from Kandahar show a winged Victoria.
Gondophares but is known especially from the Apocrypha, where he appears in the Acts of the Apostle Thomas. The Apostle Thomas arrived as a slave to Taxila to the court of Gondophares and his brother Gad, there he should build a palace for the king, gave the money but for the poor. When he was asked to explain he said that he had built a palace in the sky. Then Gondophares St. Thomas wanted to punish, but had Gad in his sleep a vision of a heavenly palace. St. Thomas was allowed to move on and was the Apostle of the Indians. The story was dismissed for a long time as a legend with no historical basis until the 19th century coins from Gondophares appeared whose existence was proved.
The name Gondophares was used by some followers as a royal title.