348 Lassen on the History traced [No. 100. 



that the language of the coins followed its own principles, in the 

 paraphrase of Greek names. I would notice at the same time, 

 that we may expect a similar kind of absorption in Eukratides, 

 and we can already hypothetically maintain, that r, preceded by 

 consonants, was absorbed. 



R before consonants is likewise absorbed, as in dhdmiko, and 

 we undoubtedly have properly attributed to foreign authority 

 the deviation from the rule in Hirmajo. If the name Archelios 

 were precisely represented in the native writing, it would supply 

 us another opportunity for testing the rule for r. The name of 

 this king is certainly written thus, and not Archelaos, if the 

 Greek be properly represented, and the native legend, according 

 to the only copy, As. Trans, v. pi. xxxv. No. 1, be properly 

 rendered by Mr. Masson. The Greek legend is distinct : 

 BA2IAEQ2 [AIKA]IOY NIKH^OPOY APXEAIOY ; 

 the native legend is similar, save the name, which is in the copy 

 entirely illegible. Mr. Prinsep, however, renders this also, 

 according to Mr. Masson^s drawing. I copy the whole : 



taw *n^\ji. v^wf Timu. 



Leaving the name for the present, we may assert, on the 

 authority of the other examples, that the initial of the second 

 word is incorrectly given, it must be t . The legend will con- 

 sequently be Mahdrdgo dhamiko gajavato, the supreme King, 

 the just, the victorious. 



In the name itself +1 is evidently an error for Hj, li, as Lishijo 

 for Lysias ; for rche there consequently was only one symbol. 

 If Mr. Masson has correctly copied, it is there Ahalijo. But 

 as £ (epsilon) must be expressed by e, it follows, that the second 

 letter has not been completely preserved, and I do not doubt, 

 that it was *», chi, khi. But there is no trace whatever of r, 

 and we have again an absorption of r before other consonants. 

 If Archelios was termed in the native language Akilijo, his 

 pride was perhaps gratified, as being reminded of the name 

 of the great Pelide, so that he would not much object to 

 the rule. 



The most difficult title, that namely, by which <ni)Tr\p is 



* V. 549. 



