Spalirisos, also spelled Spalirises, (Greek: Σπαλιρίσης Spalirísēs,[1] ϹΠΑΛΙΡΙϹΟΥ Spalirisou (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭 Śpa-li-ri-śa, Śpaliriśa[2]) was an Iranian king who ruled Arachosia in the 1st century BCE.[3]
Spalirisos, also spelled Spalirises, (Greek: Σπαλιρίσης Spalirísēs,[1] ϹΠΑΛΙΡΙϹΟΥ Spalirisou (epigraphic); Kharosthi: 𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭 Śpa-li-ri-śa, Śpaliriśa[2]) was an Iranian king who ruled Arachosia in the 1st century BCE.[3]
Spalarisos's name is attested on his coins in the Greek form Spalirísēs (Σπαλιρίσης)[1] and in the Kharosthi form Śpaliriśa (𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨪𐨁𐨭),[2] which are derived from the Saka name *Spalarīźa, meaning "in command of army".[4]
Before his rise to kingship, he served as a commander of Vonones of Sakastan, who had minted coins with his name and that of another commander, Spalahores, who are both referred to as "brother of the king".[5] Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Khodadad Rezakhani consider Spalirisos and Spalahores to indeed be Vonones' brothers,[6][3] while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be Saka satraps.[7][a]
A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having Saka names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name.[9] Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124–115 BC), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BC) and Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages.[10] Indeed, Parthians and Sakas are often mixed up in Indian literature.[11] The mythological Iranian hero Rostam (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity.[11]