Γεωγραφικα 15.1.10

15.1.10

̔ως ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις οὖν ἀποδέχεσθαι δεῖ πᾶν τὸ ἐγγυτάτω πίστεως. ἐποιησάμεθα δʼ ἡμεῖς καὶ ἐν τοῖς πρώτοις λόγοις τοῖς περὶ γεωγραφίας δίαιταν ἣν δυνατὸν ἦν περὶ τούτων, καὶ νῦν ἐκείνοις τε ἐξ ἑτοίμου χρησόμεθα καὶ ἕτερα προσθήσομεν, ὅσων ἂν δεῖν δόξῃ πρὸς τὴν σαφήνειαν. μάλιστα δʼ ἐκ τῆς διαίτης ἐδόκει τῆς τότε πιστότατα εἶναι τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἐρατοσθένους ἐν τῷ τρίτῳ τῶν γεωγραφικῶν ἐκτεθέντα κεφαλαιωδῶς περὶ τῆς τότε νομιζομένης Ἰνδικῆς, ἡνίκα Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπῆλθε· καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰνδὸς ὅριον ταύτης τε καὶ τῆς Ἀριανῆς ἣν ἐφεξῆς πρὸς τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ κειμένην Πέρσαι κατεῖχον· ὕστερον γὰρ δὴ καὶ τῆς Ἀριανῆς πολλὴν ἔσχον οἱ Ἰνδοὶ λαβόντες παρὰ τῶν Μακεδόνων. ἔστι δὲ τοιαῦτα ἃ λέγει ὁ Ἐρατοσθένης.

Under such circumstances, therefore, we must receive everything that approaches nearest to probability. I have already discussed this subject to the extent of my ability at the beginning of this work; I shall now assume those opinions as clearly proved, and shall add whatever may seem to be required for the sake of perspicuity.
It appeared from the former discussion, that in the summary given by Eratosthenes, in the third book of his Geography, is contained the most credible account of the country considered as India at the time of its invasion by Alexander.
At that period the Indus was the boundary of India and of Ariana, situated towards the west, and in the possession of the Persians, for afterwards the Indians occupied a larger portion of Ariana, which they had received from the Macedonians.
The account of Eratosthenes is as follows:—