Vima Takto

File:Soter.JPG

Bronze coin of Vima Takto, alias "Soter Megas" (r.c. 80-90 BCE).
Obv: Bust of Vima Takto, with Greek royal headband and radiate, holding sceptre; three-pronged tamgha behind.
Rev: Mounted king with Greek royal headband, holding a sceptre. Three-pronged tamgha; corrupted Greek legend ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥΩΝ ϹΩΤΗΡ ΜΕΓΑϹ "Basileu Basileon Sotir Megas": "The King of Kings, Great Saviour".

Another bronze coin of Vima Takto.

Vima Takto or Vima Taktu was a Kushan emperor around 80-90 AD.

Vima Takto was long known as "The nameless King", since his coins only showed the legend "The King of Kings, Great Saviour", until the discovery of the Rabatak inscription helped connect his name with the title on the coins.

Vima Takto's empire covered northwestern India and Bactria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.

He is mentioned in the Chinese Historical Chronicle of the Hou Hanshu, in relation to his father Kujula Kadphises:

"Qiujiu Que (Ch: 丘就卻 "Ch’iu-chiu-ch’üeh", Kujula Kadphises) was more than eighty years old when he died. His son, Yan Gaozhen (Ch:閻高珍) (Vima Takto), became king in his place. He returned and defeated Tianzhu (Northwestern India) and installed a General to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang (Kushan) king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi." (Hou Hanshu, trans. John Hill).

A later inscription found at Vima's sancutary at Mat, also records that he is the grandfather of Huvishka.

Preceded by: Kujula Kadphises

Kushan Ruler (80-90 BCE)

Succeeded by: Vima Kadphises

External links

• Coins of Vima Takto
• More coins of Vima Takto
• Hill, John E. 2004. The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu. Draft annotated English translation.[1]