Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c6.56

c6.56

The only explanation that is plausible is that he was a Greek prince in India before the advent of Alexander. I know Sophytes is not considered to be a Greek name. It has been taken to be identical with the Sanskrit Saubhūti.¹ But there is nothing strange in a Greek taking a Hindu name immediately before the Maurya period, if another Greek, shortly after, i.e., in Aśoka’s time, adopts a Persian name, viz., Tushāspa.