The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c7.310.1

v1.c7.310.1

Supposing, however, for the sake of agrument, that he did send for, or somehow get, the aid of foreign artists, he could obtain it from one of four nations, viz., Greeks, Persians, Assyrians, or Egyptians. Now, of the Greeks in connexion with India, authentic history for our purpose here begins with the invasion of Alexander; but there is nothing to show that Alexander himself did much in the way of architecture on this side of the Indus, besides erecting a few altars, and building two cities, one to the memory of his favourite horse Bucephalus, and the other to that of his pet-dog Peritas, and History is silent as to the nature of those cities, and the nationality of their architects; Mrs. Manning says, "he left behind him Greek and foreign artists," but we know not on what authority this statement has been made. Looking to the recent British expeditions to Abyssinia no one would assume that he invaded India with any large number of architects and workmen, to leave some of them behind in the country to lay the foundation of Indian architecture. The total period of his sojourn in India extended to only a few months, the greater part of which was devoted to marching from place to place, his stay at any one spot not exceeding a few days, and that under circumstances of military pomp and array which could not possibly afford any opportunity to the conservative Hindus to see and appreciate enough of Grecian civilization to imitate it.