The Indo-Greek king, Menander, was converted to Buddhism by a Buddhist monk and philosopher, Nagasena. The questions that Menander asked Nagasena about Buddhism alongwith Nagasena’s answers are contained in the book Milindapanha or the Questions of Milinda (Menander).
The book is in Pali script. According to Prof. Rapson, Menander’s fame as a great and just ruler continued after his death. Two centuries after his reign, Plutarch told the Greeks how the cities in Menander’s empire clamoured for the honour of preserving his ashes after his death.
Greek ambassador, Heliodorus, erected the Garuda Pillar at Besnagar in honour of Lord Vishnu. Thus, the Greeks were influenced by Indian culture.
The Greeks too influenced Indian culture. Scholars believe that the Greeks introduced the use of the curtain in Indian theatre which came to be known as yavanika, because it was borrowed from the Greeks (Yavanas).
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Indian astrology was influenced by Greek ideas, with the term horasastra used for astrology in Sanskrit derived from the Greek term, horoscope. According to the Gargi Samhita, “The Yavanas are barbarians, yet the science of astronomy originated with them and for this they must be reverenced like gods.”
The Greeks introduced into Indian astronomy the methods of calculating eclipses, the notion of parallax and methods of calculating it, the notion of heliocal settings and rising of heavenly bodies (after invisibility due to conjunction with the sun) in astronomical applications, correct rules for calculating the length of day and night and oblique ascensions.
The length of the year was revised, and planetary weekday names were introduced along with the names of the zodiac and planets.
Greek coinage influenced the coinage of the local Indian rulers. Earlier, Indian coins were punch- marked but later these were shaped and stamped, imitating the Greek coins. Greek rulers also began to use Indian motifs on their coins and later introduced the Brahmi script on them.
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The Greeks exported dogs, cattle, ivory pieces and spices from India. Indian envoys were sent to the court of two Roman emperors-Augustus in 27- 28 ad and Trajan in 110-120 ad.
The Indo-Greeks also introduced Hellenistic art forms in north-western India which later culminated in the Gandhara School of art.
There are some Sanskrit words which are derived from Greek-for example, pustaka (book) from puxion; kalama (pen) from kalamosr, phalaka (plaque) from plakos-, and pitika (tablet) from pittakion.
In his list of herbs, Dioskrides (first century ad) specifically lists the names of Indian plants like Kardamonum, Nardos, Malabathrum, Kostos, Calamus Aromaticus, Agallochon, Bdelluim, Aloe, Nascaphthum etc. which were taken to Greece for medicinal uses.
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In Greek medical literature, Greek equivalents of Indian substances like pippali (pepper), kustha (a plant), guggulu bdelluim (a fragrant gum J, mustaka (a fragrant grass) smgavera (ginger), kardama (cardamom), vaca (an aromatic root) and tila (sesamum) are found.
Demetrius brought the Greek calendar to India. Thus, the idea of reckoning time from a fixed date came to India along with the Greeks.