A Note on the Date of Gondophares I
By Bratindra Nath Mukherjee
Summary
This short note revisits the chronology of Gondophares I, the Indo‑Parthian king famous in Christian tradition for his association with the Apostle Thomas. The Takht‑i‑Bahi inscription records years 26 and 103 of an unspecified era; scholars have debated whether this era corresponds to the Azes, Vikrama or another calendar. By analysing coin types bearing the name Gondophares and comparing them with issues of the subsequent Orthagnes line, the author notes that later kings imitate Gondophares’ designs, implying that his reign predates theirs. Since Orthagnes coins can be dated to the middle of the first century CE, Gondophares must have flourished earlier. The paper proposes that the era referenced in the inscription is the so‑called Vikrama era beginning in 58/57 BCE, which would place year 103 around 46 CE. This aligns with traditions situating Gondophares in the early first century. The note emphasises that coordinating inscriptional dates with numismatic sequences helps resolve chronological uncertainties.
Conclusion
By correlating inscriptional references and coinage, the article argues that Gondophares I ruled in the early first century CE rather than later. Interpreting the Takht‑i‑Bahi dates as part of the Vikrama era fits both numismatic evidence and historical traditions, offering a clearer chronology for Indo‑Parthian history.