450 Lassen on the History traced [No. 101. 



as if it had originated with them. It must have been the 

 same horde of this people of Nomades, which was ruled by 

 the dynasty bearing the name Kanerki, as the coins of the 

 Kanerkis alone, not those of Kadphises and Azes, exhibit the 

 gods of this system. 



Without as yet undertaking to determine chronologically 

 the era of the Kanerkis and Ocerkis, I shall now content myself 

 with collecting facts from the fragments of the language 

 upon the coins, to apply them hereafter to history. Now as 

 to this, Mr. Mueller has pointed out, with great minuteness and 

 perfect correctness, as appears to me, two principal elements, 

 included in the system of gods upon the Kanerki coins ; deified 

 beings, according to the doctrine of Ahuramazda, of Ormuzd ; 

 and, secondly, those taken from the religious belief of the 

 countries of Asia Minor, viz. of Mithra, of Nanaia, and of the 

 Persian Diana. This supposition is countenanced by the names 

 of gods, which, as far as their interpretation is corroborated, 

 are not derived from the countries of India, but from those 

 of Iran. 



I shall review the names of these gods, with regard to 

 their derivation, and in effecting this, it will be my principal 

 object to ascertain, whether Indian names be discovered among 

 them, as the consequence of this would be, that the Pantheon 

 of the Indo- Scythians received some additions on the banks of 

 the Indus. 



My whole task is here so beautifully prepared by Messrs. 

 Prinsep* and Mueller, that I cannot do better than present 

 their inquiries in a form, which assimilates with those of my own. 



The gods are the following — 



I. Mithra. A figure in the dress of the east, with flowing 

 robe, the head surrounded with a circular nimbus of pointed 

 rays, extending the right arm, and supporting the left on the 

 hip, or leaning on a spear. M. 229. 



Upon the coins, on the face of which Kanerki is styled 

 f3a<ji\zve 9 we observe HAIOS ; and MIOPO where he is 

 styled PAO-KANHPKI ; MIIPO appears exclusively to be- 



* Especially iv. p. 629, &c. 







