Lesson plan
Sases
Sases, also known as Gondophares IV Sases (Kharosthi: 𐨒𐨂𐨡𐨂𐨥𐨪 𐨯𐨯 , ), sometimes named Sasan in the modern sources, was a king of the Indo-Parthian kingdom who ruled in Gandhara and the neighbouring areas. He is known solely from numismatic evidence, with his rule generally placed in the middle to the later half of the first century CE. Probably hailing from the Apracha dynasty, at some point during his reign he assumed the title Gondophares after deposing Abdagases I, which was held by the supreme Indo-Parthian rulers. According to the alternative chronology advocated by Robert Senior, Sases is a likely candidate for several possible historical references to the Indo-Parthian kings of the 1st century CE, including in the Acts of Thomas and the Takht-i-Bahi inscription. Traditionally, these references have been thought to be about Gondophares I, as earlier scholars did not realise that "Gondophares" became a title after the death of this king.
Article summary
Sases, also known as Gondophares IV Sases (Kharosthi: 𐨒𐨂𐨡𐨂𐨥𐨪 𐨯𐨯 , ), sometimes named Sasan in the modern sources, was a king of the Indo-Parthian kingdom who ruled in Gandhara and the neighbouring areas. He is known solely from numismatic evidence, with his rule generally placed in the middle to the later half of the first century CE. Probably hailing from the Apracha dynasty, at some point during his reign he assumed the title Gondophares after deposing Abdagases I, which was held by the supreme Indo-Parthian rulers. According to the alternative chronology advocated by Robert Senior, Sases is a likely candidate for several possible historical references to the Indo-Parthian kings of the 1st century CE, including in the Acts of Thomas and the Takht-i-Bahi inscription. Traditionally, these references have been thought to be about Gondophares I, as earlier scholars did not realise that "Gondophares" became a title after the death of this king.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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