Diomedes Soter

Diomedes Soter (Greek: , Diomḗdēs Sōtḗr, "Diomedes the Saviour") was an Indo-Greek king and possible claimant Greco-Bactrian king who may have attempted to reconquer the lands north of the Hindu Kush. He was likely a member of the Eucratid dynasty. The places where his coins have been found seem to indicate that his rule was based in the area of the Paropamisadae, possibly with temporary dominions further east. Judging from their similar portraits and many overlapping monograms, the young Diomedes seems to have been the heir (and probably a relative) of Philoxenus, the last king to rule before the kingdom of Menander I finally fragmented.

Time of reign Bopearachchi dates Diomedes to c. 95–90 BC and R. C. Senior dates him to c. 115–105 BC.

Coins of Diomedes Diomedes is depicted with the Dioscuri on his coins, either on horseback or standing; both types were previously used by Eucratides the Great, which suggests a dynastic link to the latter. It is however uncertain how the two were related, since Eucratides I died long before Diomedes. Very few Indo-Greek kings after Eucratides I minted silver coins showing the Dioscuri.

Diomedes also minted Attic-type coins (Greco-Bactrian style, with Greek legend only), which depict the king wearing a unique crested helmet, along with the Dioscuri riding horses on the reverse. His bilingual coins (with Greek and Kharoshthi) show the king either wearing the diadem alone or crested helmets. His coinage indicates that he was ruling in the western part of the Indo-Greek territory.

One overstrike is known, of a coin of Strato and Agathoclea over a coin of Diomedes. This overstrike could indicate that Diomedes fought over the central areas of the Indo-Greek territories with Strato and Agathoclea.

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