The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c26.223

v1.c26.223

Of the gods worshipped by the Indians the Greeks learnt little. One writer cited by Strabo (Clitarchus?) had asserted that they worshipped Zeus Ombrios (Zeus of the Rain Storms), the river Ganges, and local daemons¹. As we have seen, Çiva and Kṛishṇa are to be discerned through the Greek names Dionysus and Heracles in some of the statements of our sources. One member of Alexander's suite, his chief usher (εἰσαγγελεύς), Chares of Mytilene, is quoted as saying the Indians worshipped a god Soroadeios, whose name being interpreted meant 'maker of wine'². It is recognised that the Indian name which Chares heard was Sūryadeva 'Sun-god.' Some ill-educated interpreter must have been misled by the resemblance of *sūrya* 'sun' to *surā* 'wine.'