Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.139

c11.139

The conquests of Chandragupta brought India into closer touch with the outer world, particularly with the countries of the Hellenic West. We have noted above that the clash of arms with the *Yavana* king of Western Asia was followed by the establishment of an intimate relationship of a personal character between the ruling houses of Pāṭaliputra and Babylon-Seleucia. A lady of the Seleucid family probably graced the royal palace of the king of Prasii, and a Greek envoy adorned his court. The consideration thus shown did not remain unreciprocated. We are informed by Athenaeus on the authority of Phylarchus that the Indian king sent sundry presents to Seleucus which included certain powerful aphrodisiacs¹. Chandragupta's respect for Hellenic genius is also illustrated by the story that he did honour to the altars of Alexander². Diodorus speaks of a Greek author named Iamboulus who was made a slave by the Ethiopians and was later ship-wrecked on the shores of India and carried to the "king of Palibothra who had a great love for the Graecians³." It is, however, difficult to determine whether we have here an allusion to Chandragupta's phil-Hellenism, or, a reference to the liking that his son and successor had for Greek sophists. It is interesting to note in this connection the presence of a considerable number of foreigners in the metropolitan city of Pāṭaliputra. A special board of municipal officers engaged itself in looking after their safety and comfort. Special arrangements were also made to meet their judicial needs⁴. Arrian informs us that "the Indians do not use aliens as slaves."