Indo-Greeks
The northwestern gateway of India — today’s Pakistan and Afghanistan region — has always been a vulnerable passage. Around 200 BCE, a series of foreign invasions began, initiated by the Indo-Greeks (also known as Bactrian Greeks).
They were the first among the many Central Asian powers to enter India after the Mauryan period, setting the stage for an era of foreign dynasties who later became thoroughly Indianized.

By Map created from DEMIS Map server, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who Were the Indo-Greeks?
The story begins in Bactria, present-day northern Afghanistan, which was once part of the Seleucid Empire — the Greek kingdom that rose after Alexander’s death.
The Birth of Bactrian Independence
- Diodotus, the governor of Bactria, revolted against Seleucid King Antiochus in the mid-3rd century BCE.
- He declared independence and founded the Kingdom of Bactria.
Expansion into India
- Later, Demetrius, a Greek ruler of Bactria, invaded Afghanistan and Punjab, laying the foundation of Indo-Greek power in India.
- By the early 2nd century BCE, the Indo-Greeks controlled a territory larger than what Alexander had conquered.
- Their control extended even towards Ayodhya and Pataliputra at one point, though they couldn’t hold these for long.
- They never established a strong, centralized empire. Instead, two Indo-Greek dynasties ruled simultaneously, side by side — reflecting a fragmented but influential presence.
The Star Ruler: Menander (165–145 BCE)
The most well-known of all Indo-Greek kings was Menander, also called Milinda in Indian texts.
- Capital: His capital was Sakala (modern Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan).
- He invaded the Ganga-Yamuna Doab, challenging the Shungas, but couldn’t retain control.
- What made him truly remarkable wasn’t just military strength — it was his spiritual transformation.
Menander and Buddhism
- He engaged in a deep philosophical dialogue with a Buddhist monk named Nagasena (or Nagarjuna).
- Their question-answer session was later compiled into a Pali text called “Milindapanho” (Questions of Milinda).
- Menander eventually converted to Buddhism, symbolizing the cultural blending of Greek and Indian traditions.
Coins: History in Metal
“If books are the voice of history, coins are its fingerprints.”

By Classical Numismatic Group, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indo-Greek coinage is a vital source of information for historians. Here’s why:
- They were the first Indian rulers to issue coins with:
- The king’s name and image.
- Scripts in both Greek and Kharosthi.
- Menander’s coins initially featured Greek gods, but later shifted to Buddhist symbols like:
- The elephant
- The bull
- The Wheel of Dharma
- They were also the first to mint gold coins in India — a tradition expanded by the Kushanas later.

Art: The Birth of Gandhara Aesthetics
The Greeks didn’t just bring coins — they brought their artistic sense too.
- Their artistic legacy lives on in Gandhara Art — a fusion of Hellenistic (Greek) and Indian styles.
- This art form thrived in northwestern India, especially in regions like Taxila.
- Features included:
- Realistic depictions of the human body.
- Drapery in Greek style.
- Indian themes (like Buddha) carved in Greek visual techniques.
