Apollophanes

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Apollophanes Soter was an Indo-Greek king who ruled in the eastern Punjab region, which is part of modern India and Pakistan, from about 35 to 25 BCE. His epithet means “the Saviour” in Greek. Very little is known about his reign; most information comes from his coins. Bopearachchi places him among the late Indo-Greek rulers, shortly before the Indo-Scythians swept into the region. He may have been related to Apollodotus II, as both kings used the epithet Soter and shared imagery tied to Apollo and Athena on their coins.

His coinage is sparse and debased silver drachms with a simple, boxy mint mark. The coins depict him wearing a Macedonian-style helmet similar to the one seen on Alexander’s image, and Apollophanes is considered the last Indo-Greek ruler to use this helmet type. He likely ruled around Mathura, where he died.

Preceded by Zoilos II; succeeded by Strato II and Strato III.