The coins of the Kushan king Kanishka show gods from four civilisations: Greek, Iranian, Indian and even the Sumero-Elamite goddess Nana.

127

Among them is the Buddha, labelled in Greek letters: ΒΟΔΔΟ.

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The event

• Accession of Kanishkac. 127 · Purushapura. Kanishka, the greatest Kushan ruler, governed an empire from Central Asia to the Ganges valley from his capital at Purushapura. A patron of Buddhism, he fostered Gandharan art and the spread of the faith along the Silk Road.

2nd century

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