Oesho

Template:Short description Template:Infobox deity Oesho (Template:Langx) is a deity found on coins of 2nd to 6th-century, particularly the 2nd-century Kushan era. He was apparently one of the titular deities of the Kushan dynasty. Oesho is an early Kushan deity that is regarded as an amalgamation of Shiva.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

By the time of the Kushan emperor Ooishki (Bactrian Οοηϸκι; often Romanised as Huvishka), who reigned in 140–180 CE, Oesho and the female deity Ardoksho (Ardoxsho; Ardochsho; Ardokhsho) were the only deities appearing on Kushan coins.

Connections

Connections to several contemporaneous deities worshipped by neighbouring cultures have been suggested.

• During the Kushan era, Oesho was often linked to the Hindu concept of Ishvara, which was embodied by the god Shiva;<ref>Sivaramamurti, p. 56-59.</ref> Oesho may share the same etymology as Ishvara and/or represent a variant of the word in the Bactrian language spoken by the Kushans.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Similarities have retrospectively been identified with the Avestan Vayu.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>H. Humbach, 1975, p.402-408. K.Tanabe, 1997, p.277, M.Carter, 1995, p.152. J.Cribb, 1997, p.40. References cited in "De l'Indus à l'Oxus".</ref>
• Some later representations, evidently influenced by Greco-Bactrian culture, depict Oesho with a trishula, the traditional implement of Shiva, similar to a trident that is part of Poseidon's iconography.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Consort

The consort of Oesho was Ommo ("ΟΜΜΟ", Umā), as shown on a coin type of Kushan ruler Huvishka with, on the reverse, the divine couple Ommo ("ΟΜΜΟ", Umā) holding a flower, and Oesho ("ΟΗϷΟ", Shiva) with four arms holding attributes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Depictions of Oesho

• Huvishka Oesho coin.jpg

  Coin of Huvishka with deity Oesho ("ΟΗϷΟ", Shiva).<ref name="AHH326">Template:Cite book</ref>

• Huvishka with Ommo and Oesho.jpg

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• Vasudeva I Circa CE 190-230 Oesho reverse.jpg

  Oesho, with a second human face, and the head of a horned animal, on a coin of Vasudeva I

• Coin of KanishkaII.jpg

  Coin of the Kushan king Kanishka II with, on the reverse, a depiction of Oesho and the word "Oesho" in modified Greek script.

• ShivaOeshoBactria3rdCenturyCE.jpg

  Kushan worshipper with Oesho, Bactria, 3rd century CE.<ref>Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition</ref>

References

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