The Indo-Greeks: The First Western Buddhists

This is a brief video based on a PowerPoint presentation I did for my university’s Fourth Annual Classics Conference (I added in some more interesting transitions, pictures, and music for aesthetic purposes). This topic caught my interest because it represents the first true dichotomy of Eastern and Western cultures. As well, during this cultural syncretism, we have surviving scultpures of Buddhist mythological figures interacting peacefully with Hellenistic mythological figures. As well, this is something that does NOT come up very often in the Classics textbooks. I had to dig deep to find this stuff, and I thought it deserved some more attention from a wider audience. There’s just something about the blending of two seemingly irreconcilable religious/cultural traditions that I find too irresistible to ignore. So I hope you enjoy! Some Things I Left Out By Mistake: 1. The coin of Menander with Athena and the Lion are actually of Menander II. I found this out after I was done putting this together. The coins are still a prime example of the embrace of Buddhism in the area following the rule of Menander I, so I will not change it. 2. In 1889, in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, workmen dug up a coin that was identified as one of Menander’s coins. This potentially means that the influence of Menander extended from India to England. However, it was most likely brought over by merchant traders. It is still remarkable, nonetheless. Music (in order): 1. Popol Vuh- Kleiner Kreiger 2. Popol Vuh- King Minos 3. Popol Vuh- Through Pains To Heaven 4. Popol Vuh- Einsjäger und Siebenjäger