Liaka Kusulaka (Greek: Λιακο Κοζουλο Liako Kozoulo, on his coins; Prakrit: Liaka Kusulaka or 𐨫𐨁𐨀𐨐𐨆 𐨐𐨂𐨯𐨂𐨫𐨂𐨐𐨆 Li-a-ko Ku-su-lu-ko, Liako Kusuluko, on the Taxila copper plate[1]) was an Indo-Scythian satrap of the area of Chukhsa in northwestern India during the 1st century BCE.
Name
editLiaka Kusulaka name is recorded on his coins in the Greek form Liako Kozoulo (Λιακο Κοζουλο), and on the Taxila copper plate in the Kharosthi form Liako Kusuluko (𐨫𐨁𐨀𐨐𐨆 𐨐𐨂𐨯𐨂𐨫𐨂𐨐𐨆).[1] The name is composed od from Saka *Ryaka, meaning "youth" and *Kuzulaka "striving, ambitious, energetic".[2]
Reign
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He is mentioned in the Taxila copper plate inscription (Konow 1929: 23-29), dated between 90 and 6 BCE, as the father of Patika Kusulaka, and is characterized as a "kshaharata" (also the name of the first dynasty of the Western Satraps) and as kshatrapa of Chukhsa.
He minted coins which are direct imitations of the coins of Eucratides (King's head and Dioscuri), with his name inscribed "ΛΙΑΚΟ ΚΟΖΟΥΛΟ".
The name "Κοζουλο" was also used by the first Kushan ruler Kujula Kadphises (Greek: Κοζουλου Καδφιζου, Kozoulou Kadphizou or Κοζολα Καδαφες, Kozola Kadaphes), which may suggest some family connection.[3]
Notes
edit- ^ a b Konow, Sten (1929). Kharoshṭhī Inscriptions: with the Exception of Those of Aśoka. Kolkata: Government of India Central Publication Branch. p. 23-28, PLATE V.
- ^ Harmatta, János (1999). "Languages and scripts in Graeco-Bactria and the Saka Kingdoms". In Harmatta, János; Puri, B. N.; Etemadi, G. F. (eds.). History of civilizations of Central Asia. Vol. 2. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 410. ISBN 978-8-120-81408-0.
- ^ Rapson, E. J. (1908). Catalogue of the Coins of the Andhra Dynasty, the Western Kṣatrapas, the Traikūṭaka Dynasty, and the "Bodhi" Dynasty. London: Longman & Co. p. cvi. ISBN 978-1-332-41465-9.