Hermaeus of Paropamisadae (Ἑρμαῖος ὁ Σωτήρ) Life Hermaeus was the last Indo-Greek king, ruling the Paropamisadae region centered on Kabul in the 1st century BCE (c. 90–70 BCE, with some estimates as late as 40 BCE) [1][2]. His reign ended Greek political power in the area, which was absorbed by the Yuezhi and Saka nomads [1][2]. Numismatic evidence, the primary source for his rule, shows coins with Greek and Indian iconography, often featuring his portrait and the epithet "Soter" (Savior); he may have ruled jointly with Queen Kalliope [1][2].

Works Hermaeus is not known as an author of any literary or historical works. Consulted sources identify him exclusively as a political figure, with no attested writings.

Significance His overthrow marks the end of nearly three centuries of Hellenistic rule in Central Asia and northwestern India [1][2]. His coinage is a crucial archaeological source for this final period, demonstrating cultural syncretism. The conquest of his territory paved the way for the rise of the Kushan Empire, a major Buddhist center and pivotal Silk Road power [1].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hermaeus 2. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/ 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: A search for "Hermaeus" at https://oxfordre.com/classics/ did not yield a dedicated entry. The broader entry on "Indo-Greeks" was consulted via search but does not contain a specific section on Hermaeus as an author. 4. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: No entry found. 5. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: No entry found. 6. Perseus Digital Library: Searches for "Hermaeus" and "Ἑρμαῖος" did not yield relevant entries in the Greco-Roman texts or in Smith's Dictionary. 7. ToposText: No entry found for Hermaeus as an author or historical figure in its ancient text database. 8. De Imperatoribus Romanis: Not applicable, as he was not a Roman emperor.