Spalirisos, also spelled Spalirises, ( Greek: Σπαλιρίσης Spalirísēs, [1] ϹΠΑΛΙΡΙϹΟΥ Spalirisou (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭 Śpa-li-ri-śa, Śpaliriśa [2]) was an Iranian king who ruled Arachosia in the 1st century BCE. [3]
Spalarisos's name is attested on his coins in the Greek form Spalirísēs ( Σπαλιρίσης) [1] and in the Kharosthi form Śpaliriśa ( 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭), [2] which are derived from the Saka name *Spalarīźa, meaning "in command of army". [4]
Before his rise to kingship, he served as a commander of Vonones of Sakastan, who had minted coins with his name and that of another commander, Spalahores, who are both referred to as "brother of the king". [5] Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Khodadad Rezakhani consider Spalirisos and Spalahores to indeed be Vonones' brothers, [6] [3] while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be Saka satraps. [7] [a]
A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having Saka names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name. [9] Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124–115 BC), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BC) and Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages. [10] Indeed, Parthians and Sakas are often mixed up in Indian literature. [11] The mythological Iranian hero Rostam (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity. [11]