Ancient Greece–Ancient India relations: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1=Relations between ancient Greece and India}}
{{Short description|1=Relations between ancient Greece and India}}
[[File:Pataliputra Palace capital by L A Waddell 1895.jpg|thumb|[[Pataliputra capital|Pataliputra Palace capital]], showing Greek and Persian influence, early [[Mauryan Empire]] period, 3rd century BC.]] For the [[Ancient Greeks]], “India" ({{lang-el|Ινδία}}) meant the country East of [[Persia]] and South of the [[Himalayas]] (with the exception of the [[Seres]]). Although, during different periods of history, "India" referred to a much wider or much less extensive place.<ref name="William_Smith">[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=india-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) William Smith, LLD, Ed. - India]</ref> The Greeks referred to the Indians as "Indói" ({{lang-el|Ἰνδοί}}), literally meaning "the people of the [[Indus River]]". Indians called the Greeks [[Yona]]s and “[[Yavana]]s”<ref name= "Influence of Greeks on Indian Culture">[http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/HistoryPStudies/PDF_Files/14_V-30-No1-Jun17.pdf The Influence of Greek Classics on Indian Culture in Ancient Era]</ref> from [[Ionians]].<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/44144820?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents YAVANAS IN THE ANCIENT INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS]</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Oxford English|date=June 2021}}
[[File:Pataliputra Palace capital by L A Waddell 1895.jpg|thumb|[[Pataliputra capital|Pataliputra Palace capital]], showing Greek and Persian influence, early [[Mauryan Empire]] period, 3rd century BC.]] For the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]], “India" ({{lang-el|Ινδία}}) referred to the polity situated east of [[Iran|Persia]] and south of the [[Himalayas]] (with the exception of [[Serica]]). Although, during different periods of history, "India" referred to a much wider or much less extensive place.<ref name="William_Smith">[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=india-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) William Smith, LLD, Ed. - India]</ref> The Greeks referred to the [[History of India|ancient Indians]] as "Indói" ({{lang-el|Ἰνδοί|lit=people of the [[Indus River]]}}); the Indians referred to the Greeks as "[[Yona|Yonas (Yavanas)]]"<ref name= "Influence of Greeks on Indian Culture">[http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/HistoryPStudies/PDF_Files/14_V-30-No1-Jun17.pdf The Influence of Greek Classics on Indian Culture in Ancient Era]</ref> in reference to the [[Ionians]].<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/44144820?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents YAVANAS IN THE ANCIENT INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS]</ref>


==Mythology and legends==
==Mythology and legends==
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[[Dionysius Periegetes]] described how Indians looked like.<ref name = "GREEK IMAGE OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY"/>
[[Dionysius Periegetes]] described how Indians looked like.<ref name = "GREEK IMAGE OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY"/>


[[Arrian]] wrote about India in his work ''[[Indica (Arrian)|Indica]]'' ({{lang-el|Ἰνδική}}).
[[Arrian]] wrote about India in his work ''[[Indica (Arrian)|Indica]]'' ({{lang-el|Ἰνδική}}).
 
[[Quintus Curtius Rufus]] wrote about the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great in his work [[Histories of Alexander the Great]].


[[Strabo]] described India in his work ''[[Geographica]]''. He referred to India several times during the course of the book and he devoted book 15 to an extended description of the country.<ref name="Strabo_and_India">[https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1842/23448/Parmar2016.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Strabo and India]</ref>
[[Strabo]] described India in his work ''[[Geographica]]''. He referred to India several times during the course of the book and he devoted book 15 to an extended description of the country.<ref name="Strabo_and_India">[https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1842/23448/Parmar2016.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Strabo and India]</ref>
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Alexander let the [[Taxiles]] and [[Porus]] to keep their kingdoms<ref name="Diodorus 18.3.1">[https://topostext.org/work/134#18.3.1 Diodorus Siculus, Library 18.3.1]</ref> and added [[Paropamisadae]] to the kingdom of [[Oxyartes]].<ref name="Diodorus 18.39.1">[https://topostext.org/work/134#18.39.1 Diodorus Siculus, Library 18.39.1]</ref> In addition, he gave to [[Peithon (son of Agenor)|Peithon]]<ref name="Diodorus 18.39.1"/><ref name="Diodorus 18.3.1"/> and [[Philip (son of Machatas)|Philip]] Indian satrapies.
Alexander let the [[Taxiles]] and [[Porus]] to keep their kingdoms<ref name="Diodorus 18.3.1">[https://topostext.org/work/134#18.3.1 Diodorus Siculus, Library 18.3.1]</ref> and added [[Paropamisadae]] to the kingdom of [[Oxyartes]].<ref name="Diodorus 18.39.1">[https://topostext.org/work/134#18.39.1 Diodorus Siculus, Library 18.39.1]</ref> In addition, he gave to [[Peithon (son of Agenor)|Peithon]]<ref name="Diodorus 18.39.1"/><ref name="Diodorus 18.3.1"/> and [[Philip (son of Machatas)|Philip]] Indian satrapies.


After the [[Battle of the Hydaspes]], Alexander and his men conducted the [[Mallian campaign]].
Alexander also conquered the kingdom of the Indian king Phegeus. The inhabitants welcomed Alexander's army and the king met Alexander and gave him many gifts.<ref name="Diodorus 93">[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0083%3Abook%3D17%3Achapter%3D93 Diodorus Siculus, Library, 93]</ref>
 
Alexander asked Phegeus and Porus what was after the Hyphasis river and decided to continue.<ref name="Diodorus 93"/> He was preparing to march against the Indian King [[Xandrames]], before his army mutinied.<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=aggrammes-bio-1&highlight=xandrames A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology William Smith, Ed., Aggrammes]</ref>
 
Later, Alexander and his men conducted the [[Mallian campaign]].


According to ancient writers, the Queen [[Cleophis]] of Massaga had a son with Alexander the Great. But modern historians dismiss it.  
According to ancient writers, the Queen [[Cleophis]] of Massaga had a son with Alexander the Great. But modern historians dismiss it.


[[Indo-Greek kingdoms]] were founded by the successor of Alexander the Great. ([[Greek conquests in India]])
[[Indo-Greek kingdoms]] were founded by the successor of Alexander the Great. ([[Greek conquests in India]])
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