Rulers of parts of north-west India from the 3rd to the 1st century bc. In 326 bc Alexander the Great’s army had invaded India and explored the Indus valley. His direct impact was slight, but in the next century Greek commanders, who already held Bactria in Central Asia again crossed the Indus, this time to establish power in the Punjab. Their successors were driven out of India after 200 years, but the ‘Yavana’ (Greek) rulers had an important impact on art and architecture, astrology and medicine. Evidence for Greek activity in India comes mainly from their inscribed coins.