The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c31.47

v1.c31.47

On other coins, however, the same two names appear with the same titles, but with a change of position—Azilises occupying the *obverse* with a Greek legend, and Azes the *reverse* with a Kharoṣṭhī legend (B.M. Cat., p. 92, Pl. XX, 3); and, as degrees of dignity or seniority are undoubtedly indicated by these positions in similar instances, it has been inferred that Azilises was associated with two kings named Azes—possibly with his father and predecessor at the beginning of his reign and with his son and successor at its close. The existence of a second Azes might well be questioned if it could be proved by no more cogent argument than this. But the coins which bear the name show so great a diversity of style that, from this fact alone, numismatists have suspected that they must have been struck by more than one king; and, if our system of chronology be correct, the Azes who succeeded Maues in 58 B.C. cannot possibly have been the Azes who was succeeded by Gondopharnes in 19 A.D. (p. 577).