Bindusara Amitrodates or Mithradates

Contd.

       This brings one closer to Bagadates, the first indigenous Seleucid satrap who was a contemporary of Bindusara. “Dat” is usually rendered as ‘Given’ but a better alternative may be “Law”. Ashoka drops a valuable clue in one of his Edicts that his ancestors were also Devanampiyas or Devadats (Deva = God = Baga). The Mithraic cross in the standard in the right

side of the coin of Bagadates reveals that Bagadates was also Mithradates. As Mithra in Iran was a god of War, this can also be read as Amitraghata. Mary Boyce writes that Baga also meant Mitra. Bindusara is linked to Gauda in some texts which may be Gour in the Fars area of modern Iran which was once a part of greater Indo-Iran.

       In the little polis of Amyzon in north-west Caria a decree from the time of Philip Arrhidaeus granted citizenship to a man named Bagadates and his son Ariaramnes and on the advice of the oracle at Delphi, appointed the former as the priest of the local goddess Artemis.