King Milinda (Menander I)

Milinda (Menander I) was a Greek king of the Indo-Greek Kingdom who reigned in present-day Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. He is best known for his famous dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena, preserved in the Pali text Milindapanha (The Questions of Milinda). These dialogues, in which Milinda challenges Buddhist doctrine with sharp philosophical questions, are considered some of the finest examples of philosophical discourse in Buddhist literature.

Tradition holds that Milinda converted to Buddhism after being satisfied by Nagasena's answers. His conversion exemplifies the interaction between Hellenistic and Indian thought in the post-Alexander era. Archaeological evidence — including coins bearing the Dharma Wheel — suggests he may have genuinely embraced Buddhist patronage.