ABSTRACT
The following chapter is devoted to Menander, the most famous Indo-Greek ruler and at the same time, the most famous Greek who converted to Buddhism. He is the main character in the Buddhist dialogue Milindapañha. This fact consistently surprises the researchers. Therefore, this chapter is mainly devoted to an examination of the dialogue and the role of Menander in it. In addition, the issue of Menander’s conversion to Buddhism is considered in the context of the analysis of other extant sources on Menander, such as the Bajaur reliquary inscription, the Reh inscription engraved on a liṅga, and Menander’s coinage – among the archaeological sources; Yuga Purāṇa and Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalata of Kṣemendra – among the literary sources. The chapter ends with a description of Gandhāra (a key region for Greco-Buddhist relations) in the time of Menander.
