Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.126

c11.126

In regard to the marriage compact Macdonald draws a distinction between the terms *kedos* and *epigamia* used by Appian and Strabo respectively. The former, we are told, would signify an actual marriage, while the latter probably implied only "a convention establishing a *jus connubii* between the two royal families"². It is observed in this connection that there was no room in the family circle of Seleucus for any actual marriage relationship. Both the expressions used by our authorities may, however, signify a "connection by marriage," though the word used by Strabo has also the sense of "right of intermarriage between states."³ The cession of territories "upon terms of intermarriage (*epigamia*)" implies that the marriage did take place, the lands in question being possibly treated as the dower of the Seleucid princess like the Kāśi village in the Buddhist story of Kosalā devī and Bombay in case of Catherine of Braganza⁴.