Hippostratus

Hippostratus is a figure of the Indo-Greek dynastic tradition: a Hellenistic-style king attested through coinage who operated in the Punjab and Pushkalavati region in the late 1st century BC. His name is Greek (hippo- 'horse' + -stratos 'army'), reflecting Hellenic onomastic practice transplanted into South Asia. Scholarly reconstructions of his chronology and political relations vary, but numismatic evidence places him within the final phase of western Indo-Greek rule during the period of Scythian expansion under Azes I.

On silver coins Hippostratus is shown as a diademed royal portrait on the obverse, using Hellenistic royal iconography. Reverses attributed to him include a king on a prancing horse, a king on a walking horse making a benediction gesture, and a standing goddess (perhaps Tyche). Bronze types attributed to his issue include a serpent-legged deity or standing goddess, Apollo/tripod, and a sitting Zeus-Mithras or horse motif. These images reflect the mixed Hellenic and local visual-religious vocabulary of Indo-Greek coinage.

As a historical ruler, Hippostratus' capacities are political and military rather than supernatural: numismatic quantity and variety indicate substantial authority; his coin legends use the epithet Soter ('Saviour') on all coins and Basileos Megas ('Great King') on some issues, claims to protective and supreme kingship. Numismatic evidence suggests he fought rather successfully against Indo-Scythian forces led by Azes I, but was ultimately defeated and had some issues overstruck by Azes, marking the end of western Indo-Greek rule.