The Greeks in Bactria and India c29.8

c29.8

The late date of the third class, the copper coinage with the round omicron, is also shown by the words στηρος ου in the Greek legend. στηρος used to be treated as a corruption of σωτῆρος, but it occurs too regularly and consistently for this to be possible, and also such a corruption will not explain ου. Konow has explained ου as Kushan shau, i.e. Shah, king,² which in view of the seal from Bajaur with the inscription (in Kharoshthi) su Theüdama[sa]³ seems most probable; but he still took στηρος to be σωτῆρος. Many explanations of both words have been put forward;⁴ I venture to think the view is certain enough which makes στηρος the same language as ου, and that the meaning must be related to the Kharoshthi legend on the copper coins of the third class with round omicron—‘Great King’ or something of the sort.