The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c24.175

v1.c24.175

Megasthenes, on the other hand, as quoted by Strabo (*Geogr.* XV, 1, 6, pp. 686–687 Cas.), declares that 'the Indians had never engaged in foreign warfare, nor had they ever been invaded and conquered by a foreign power, except by Hercules and Dionysus and lately by the Macedonians.' After mentioning several famous conquerors who did not attack India, he continues: 'Semiramis, however, died before [carrying out] her undertaking; and the Persians, although they got mercenary troops from India, namely the Hydrakes², did not make an expedition into that country, but merely approached it when Cyrus was marching against the Massagetae.'