A report on Azes era, Yavana era and Vijayamitra

Tetradrachm of Plato. Obv: Diademed bust of Plato. Rev: Sun divinity Helios, riding a four-horse chariot. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΠΛΑΤΩΝΟΣ (BASILEOS EPIPHANOYS PLATONOS) "Of King Plato, Manifestation of God on earth". Coin marked MZ (bottom left of reverse), which possibly is a dating which equals year 47 Yavana era = 138 BCE.

Vijayamitra riding in armour, holding a whip. Like many other Indo-Scythians, Vijayamitra did not issue portraits.

The Yavanarajya inscription, dated to "year 116 of Yavana hegemony", probably 70 or 69 BCE. Mathura Museum.

Silver coin of Vijayamitra in the name of Azes. Buddhist triratna symbol in the left field on the reverse.

Vijayamitra is mentioned in a recently discovered inscription in Kharoshthi on a Buddhist reliquary (the "Rukhana reliquary", published by Salomon in 2005), which gives a relationship between several eras of the period, and especially gives confirmation of a Yavana era in relation to the Azes era:

- Vijayamitra

However, this was disputed by Robert Bracey following discovery of an inscription of Vijayamitra, which is dated in two eras.

- Azes era

Harry Falk and others have suggested that the Yavana era actually started in 174 BCE, based on a reevaluation of the Azes era which is now thought to have started in 47/46 BCE.

- Yavana era

The Azes era was recently connected to the Yavana era thanks to the Rukhana reliquary inscription.

- Azes era

A recently discovered reliquary (published by Salomon in 2005) from Bajaur gives a triple dating which allows to clarify the relationship between several eras: it is dated to the 27th regnal year of Vijayamitra, a king of the Indo-Scythian Apraca, the 73rd years of the Azes era, and the 201st year of the Greeks (Yonanas or Ionians).

- Yavana era

1 related topic with Alpha

Rukhuna reliquary

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$The Darunta reliquary from Passani Stupa No.2 is structurally similar to the Rukhuna reliquary, especially with the inside compartments.<ref name="RS">{{cite book |last1=Salomon |first1=Richard |title=A New Inscription dated in the "Yona" (Greek) Era of 186/5 B.C. |date=2005 |publisher=Brepols |isbn=978-2-503-51681-3 |pages=359–400 |url=http://www.brepols.net/Pages/ShowProduct.aspx?prod_id=IS-9782503516813-1}}</ref>$

Another similar example: the Bimaran casket. This reliquary is inscribed on the outside, rather than the inside.

Broadly similar stone containers with compartments from Ai-Khanoum, 2nd century BCE.<ref name="HF">{{cite book |last1=Falk |first1=Harry |title=Buddhistische Reliquienbehälter aus der Sammlung Gritli von Mitterwallner |date=2015 |page=135 |url=https://www.academia.edu/20438939 |language=en}}</ref>

Stone vessels (pyxides) from the Temple with niches, Sanctuary of Ai-Khanoum, 3rd-2nd century BCE.

The Rukhuna reliquary, also sometimes Rukhana reliquary, also described as the Bajaur reliquary inscription, is a Scythian reliquary which was dedicated and inscribed in 16 CE by Rukhuna, Queen of Indo-Scythian king Vijayamitra (ruled 12 BCE - 20 CE).

The inscription on the reliquary, also called the Bajaur reliquary inscription, was published by Richard Salomon with a photograph in 2005, and gives a relationship between several eras of the period, and especially a confirmation of a Yavana era (Yoṇaṇa vaṣaye) in relation to the Azes era, that is "Azes era= Yavana era - 128 years".