LYDIA UNDER PERSIAN RULE
(Reference: Sellwood - An Introduction
to Sasanian Coins by D. Sellwood; R. Whitting & R. Williams and
Mitchiner - Ancient and Classical World.)
While most books on ancient coins include the Persians
under the heading of Greek, I believe you would have met a very
unfortunate end if you ever stood before a Persian King and called him
a Greek. The Persians were one of the most important enemies of the
Greeks. While the issues of this series are sometimes referred to as
Lydian, only the earliest issues are Lydia proper, with later issues
probably struck for the expanding Persian Empire.
BACTRIA (or Indo-Greek)
Alexander the Great's invasion of India established
Hellenistic culture in the region. For some time following Alexander's
death, his Indian territories remained under Greek control as the
Baktro-Sogdiana province of the Seleucid Empire, but in about 256 BC
Diodotos declared his independence as the first King of Bactria.
After 256 BC the Bactrian Kingdom was quite powerful
with a strong Hellenistic influence, even extending its borders into
other neighboring Indian Kingdoms. In 130 BC much Bactrian power and
territory were lost to invading Scythians and over the next 100 years
Bactrian power waned, as the Hellenistic culture was gradually absorbed
back into the local Indian cultures.
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