84 On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab. [No. 1. 



The series of coins which commences apparently with the reign 

 of Kadphises and of which specimens are generally found in topes, 

 have all the same characteristics ; they are rather Greek than Asiatic, 

 rather Persian than Tartar, rather belong to the religion of Zer- 

 toost than to that of Buddha. The inscriptions are in the Greek 

 character. We have full length figures of Hercules, denoting Hera- 

 clean descent, which Alexander boasted in common with many 

 Greeks. We have his club, denoting the same consanguinity.* We 

 have the trident of Neptune, the especial deity of the Greeks, who 

 were no doubt as proud as are Britons of their empire of the deep. 

 We have the figure of Europa seated upon an Asiatic Bull to repre- 

 sent the union of Europe and Asia in this line of kings ; and we 

 have the incense altar of Greece, upon which Alexander delighted to 

 burn incense whenever he crossed a river or captured a fort, or enter- 

 ed a considerable city ; and we have the cornucopia in the grasp of 

 Ceres. 



On the other hand, the names or words recorded in Greek 

 characters savour often rather of the ancient Persian, and of the 

 deities worshipped by that race, as if the close intercourse of cen- 

 turies and intermarriage with Persians had influenced the religious 

 tenets of the Arianian kings. Such are the words Mithro, MI0PO 

 Athro, A0PO, Okro or Ardokro, APAOXPO, Korano, KOPANO, the 

 last being probably derived from the Pehlivi name of the sun jj^ 

 which gives name to the provinces of Khorussaun and of Khorism. 

 Whilst HAIOC Helios, the Greek name of the sun, has the same 

 reference with all the foregoing, to the worship of that luminary 

 and of his element fire. 



* *Ev Te avTrJ rfj 'IpSwv yfj (he has just been speaking of Mount Meros) (3ovs 

 •SoVras iyKSKav/xevas pSwaXov, TeK/x-qpiova-Oai inl rcfSe, '6ri 'HpaKAr/s is 'Ivdovs 

 a(piK€To. Arrian, lib. v. cap. 3. 



T£>v 8e Koivo3Vt)(TavT(av avry ttjs o-Tpareias airoy6vovs slvai robs 2t0as avfifioXa 

 tvv yevovs trwfavTaS, to, re Sopas a^exec-flat, Kaddirep rbv 'HpaKAea nal to ffKvraAri- 

 <pope?v, nal iTTiKeKavaQcu fioval Kal 7}pn6vois p6ira\ov. Strabo. lib. xv. p. 688. 



It is curious that the cypher of the Sikh Government stamped upon their pub- 

 lic cattle, was not exactly a club, but a trident (trisul) which seems to have come 

 down from the Greeks to them as an emblem of sovereignty. Their turban also 

 is moulded into the Greek helmet ; and like the Spartans, they are sworn to arms. 



