Author: John W McCrindle
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 227
ISBN/UPC (if available): 812150948X
Description
Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian is a classic work on the ancient geography of India. This is an English Translation of the fragments of the Indika of Megasthenes collected by Dr Schwanbeck, and of the first part of the Indika of Arrian.
The account of India written by Megasthenes from his personal knowledge of the country is justly held to be almost invaluable for the light which it throws upon the obscurity of early Indian history. Though, unfortunately, not extant in its original form, it has nevertheless been partially preserved by means of epitomes and quotations to be found scattered up and down the writings of various ancient authors, both Greek and Roman. Dr Schwanbeck, of Bonn, rendered historical literature a good service by collecting and arranging in their proper order these detached fragments.
The work thus reconstructed, and entitled Megasthenis Indika, has now been before the world for upwards of thirty years. It has not, however, so far as I know, been as yet translated, at least into our language, and hence it is but little known beyond the circles of the learned. The translation now offered, which goes forth from the very birth-place of the original work, will therefore for the first time place it within the reach of the general public
Contents
Publishers Preface to the New Edition
Preface
Introduction
The Indika of Arrian
Introduction