Description
Gondophares I was the founder of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom in what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan. He succeeded the Scythian rulers in the region but unlike them do not appear to have embraced Buddhism, instead retaining their own ancient Persian Zoroastrian practices. Interestingly, Gondophares’s name appears in connection with two early Christian figures. His name ultimately translated as Gaspar corresponds to one of the ‘Biblical Magi’ or ‘Kings from the East’ who visit the infant Christ. He is also mentioned in the ‘Acts of Thomas’ an early Christian text recounting the missionary work and journey of the Apostle Thomas to India.