1840.] fro7n Bad rian and I ndo- Scythian coins. 735 



The principal passage on Eukratides is the following, 

 Justin xLi. 6. ^^ Eodem ferme tempore, sicuti in Parthis 

 Mithridates, ita in Bactris Eucratides, magni uterque viri, 

 regna ineunt. Sed Parthorum fortuna felicior ad summum hoc 

 duce imperii fastigium eos perduxit. Bactriani autem, per varia 

 bella jactati, non regnum tantum, verum etiam libertatem amise- 

 runt ; siquidem Sogdianorum, et Arachotorum, et Drangianorum 

 Indorumque bellis fatigati, ad postremum ab invalidioribus 

 Parthis, veluti exsangues, oppressi sunt. Multa tamen Eucratides 

 bella magna virtute gessit, quibus attritus, quum obsidionem 

 Demetrii regis Indorum pateretur, cum trecentis militibus 

 sexaginta millia hostium assiduis eruptionibus vicit. Quinto 

 itaque mense libera tus, Indiam in potestatem redegit. Unde quum 

 se reciperet, a filio, quem socium regni fecerat, in itinere inter- 

 ficitur, qui non dissimulato parricidio, velut hostem, non patrem, 

 interfecisset, et per sanguinem ejus currum egit, et corpus 

 abjici insepultum jussit/^ 



First we remark on this passage, that the whole does not refer 

 to Eukratides, namely not that part in which the reasons for 

 the decline and the downfall of the Bactrian empire are enume- 

 rated. Throughout the whole passage one idea pervades, viz. that 

 the fate of both empires, the Parthian and the Bactrian, was 

 identical in the simultaneous accession to power of two great 

 monarchs, but opposite in the simultaneous progress of one, to 

 the highest pitch of power ; of the other, to total destruction. 

 Under the impression of this leading idea, the author suddenly 

 turns to relate the circumstances which weakened and eventually 

 ruined the empire of Bactria, namely, the wars with the neigh- 

 bouring nations ; this is an important notice, as involving a fact 

 hitherto entirely overlooked, which is, that the detached kingdoms 

 of Drangiana, Arachosia, and India, existed cotemporaneously 

 together with that of Bactria. But it does not follow, that all the 

 wars Eukratides was engaged in, must be the very same, which 

 the Bactrians waged with the Drangians, Arachosians, and 

 Indians, or, in other words, it is not necessary, that the three 

 nations, now mentioned, must have formed independent states 

 before Eukratides, as they may also have become independent 

 after his murder. Moreover, if we may be allowed to follow a 



