Maues

Maues (Greek: Μαύης ; ΜΑΥΟΥ (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨨𐨆𐨀 , , called 𐨨𐨆𐨒 , on the Taxila copper plate; also called 𐨨𐨅𐨬𐨐𐨁 𐨨𐨁𐨩𐨁𐨐 , in the Mathura lion capital inscription,) was the first Indo-Scythian king, ruling from 98/85 to 60/57 BCE. He invaded India and established Saka hegemony by conquering Indo-Greek territories. Maues's name primarily attested from his coins appear under the Gandhari form (𐨨𐨆𐨀) and the Ancient Greek form (Μαύης), both of which are variants of the same Scythian Saka language name *Mava, meaning "tiger" and "hero". Another form of Maues's name appears on the Taxila copper plate as (𐨨𐨆𐨒), which is a Gandhari derivation of the Saka name *Mauka, which also means "tiger" and "hero". The Mathura lion capital inscription refers to Maues as (𐨨𐨅𐨬𐨐𐨁 𐨨𐨁𐨩𐨁𐨐), which is composed of , derived from Saka *Mavyaka, meaning "tiger", and of , from Saka *mayaka, meaning "prosperous". The Sakas, and/or the related Parni (who founded the Parthian Empire) and Scythians, were nomadic Eastern Iranian peoples. The Sakas from Sakastan defeated and killed the Parthian king Phraates II in 126 B.C. Indo-Scythians established themselves in the Indus around 88 B.C., during the end of Mithridates II of Parthias reign. The Sakas and Pahlavas became closely associated during the Saka migration. This can be demonstrated from various sources, such as the adoption of names and titles. Maues took the title of "Great King of Kings", an exceeded version of a traditional Persian royal title. Maues is the first recorded ruler of the Sakas in the Indus. He is first mentioned in the Moga inscription: "In the seventy eighth, 78, year the Great King, the Great Moga, on the fifth, 5, day of the month Panemos, on this first, of the Kshaharata and Kshatrapa of Chukhsa - Liaka Kusuluka by name - his son Patika - in the town of Takshasila..." Mauses is possibly mentioned the Maira inscription in the Salt Range in Pakistan as 'Moasa'. Maues vastly expanded his domain by conquering key cities along the Indus.