[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Foreign](https://indike.org/pramana/inf) › [Greek](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr) › [Roman Imperial (31 BCE – 330 CE)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman) › [Γεωγραφικά](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo) › 15.1.69 # Γεωγραφικά 15.1.69 Γεωγραφικά 15.1.69 - **Language:** Ancient Greek ### [15.1.69](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1.69) λέγεται δὲ καὶ ταῦτα παρὰ τῶν συγγραφέων, ὅτι σέβονται μὲν τὸν ὄμβριον Δία Ἰνδοὶ καὶ τὸν Γάγγην ποταμὸν καὶ τοὺς ἐγχωρίους δαίμονας. ὅταν δὲ βασιλεὺς λούῃ τὴν τρίχα, μεγάλην ἑορτὴν ἄγουσι καὶ μεγάλα δῶρα πέμπουσι τὸν ἑαυτοῦ πλοῦτον ἕκαστος ἐπιδεικνύμενος κατὰ ἅμιλλαν. τῶν τε μυρμήκων τινὰς καὶ πτερωτοὺς λέγουσι τῶν χρυσωρύχων· ψήγματά τε χρυσοῦ καταφέρειν τοὺς ποταμούς, καθάπερ τοὺς Ἰβηρικούς· ἐν δὲ ταῖς κατὰ τὰς ἑορτὰς πομπαῖς πολλοὶ μὲν ἐλέφαντες πέμπονται χρυσῷ κεκοσμημένοι καὶ ἀργύρῳ, πολλὰ δὲ τέθριππα καὶ βοϊκὰ ζεύγη· εἶθʼ ἡ στρατιὰ κεκοσμημένη· καὶ χρυσώματα δὲ τῶν μεγάλων λεβήτων καὶ κρατήρων ὀργυιαίων· καὶ τοῦ Ἰνδικοῦ χαλκοῦ τράπεζαί τε καὶ θρόνοι καὶ ἐκπώματα καὶ λουτῆρες, λιθοκόλλητα τὰ πλεῖστα σμαράγδοις καὶ βηρύλλοις καὶ ἄνθραξιν Ἰνδικοῖς· καὶ ἐσθὴς δὲ ποικίλη χρυσόπαστος, καὶ βόνασοι καὶ παρδάλεις καὶ λέοντες τιθασοὶ καὶ τῶν ποικίλων ὀρνέων καὶ εὐφθόγγων πλῆθος. ὁ δὲ Κλείταρχός φησιν ἁμάξας τετρακύκλους, δένδρα κομιζούσας τῶν μεγαλοφύλλων, ἐξ ὧν ἀπήρτηται γένη τετιθασευμένων ὀρνέων, ὧν εὐφωνότατον μὲν εἴρηκε τὸν ὠρίωνα, λαμπρότατον δὲ κατὰ τὴν ὄψιν καὶ πλείστην ἔχοντα ποικιλίαν τὸν καλούμενον κατρέα· τὴν γὰρ ἰδέαν ταῷ μάλιστα ἐγγίζειν. τὴν δὲ λοιπὴν εἰκονογραφίαν παρʼ ἐκείνου ληπτέον. > Historians also relate that the Indians worship Jupiter Ombrius (or, the Rainy), the river Ganges, and the indigenous deities of the country; that when the king washes his hair, a great feast is celebrated, and large presents are sent, each person displaying his wealth in competition with his neighbour. > They say, that some of the gold-digging myrmeces (ants) have wings; and that the rivers, like those of Iberia, bring down gold-dust. > In processions at their festivals, many elephants are in the train, adorned with gold and silver, numerous carriages drawn by four horses and by several pairs of oxen; then follows a body of attendants in full dress, (bearing) vessels of gold, large basins and goblets, an orguia in breadth, tables, chairs of state, drinking-cups, and lavers of Indian copper, most of which were set with precious stones, as emeralds, beryls, and Indian carbuncles; garments embroidered and interwoven with gold; wild beasts, as buffaloes, panthers, tame lions, and a multitude of birds of variegated plumage and of fine song. > Cleitarchus speaks of four-wheeled carriages bearing trees with large leaves, from which were suspended (in cages) different kinds of tame birds, among which the orion was said to possess the sweetest note, but the catreus was the most beautiful in appearance, and had the most variegated plumage. In shape it approached nearest to the peacock, but the rest of the description must be taken from Cleitarchus. > — Hans Claude Hamilton & William Falconer 1854, The Geography of Strabo - [Previous: 15.1.68](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1.68) - [Next: 15.1.70](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1.70) - [Up: 15.1](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1) ## Translations (2) - [The Geography of Strabo](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo~en-hamilton-falconer.15.1.69) — Hans Claude Hamilton & William Falconer 1854, English - [Ancient India as Described in Classical Literature (Strabo, book 15)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo~en-mccrindle.15.1.69) — John Watson McCrindle 1901, English ## Linked texts (1) - [Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India, their Religion and Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.muir-1868.v5.c38.2) — John Muir, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1.69](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.strabo.15.1.69) · Pramāṇa