Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s2.t2.2

c9.s2.t2.2

The first group begins with the principalities in the hill country drained by the northern affluents of the Kabul river comprising the valleys of the Kunar, the Panjkora and the Swat, occupied by the Aspasians, the Gaureans and the Assakenians respectively. The name Aspasian is derived from the Iranian 'Aspa', horse, corresponding to the Sanskrit 'Aśva' or 'Aśvaka'. They were thus identical with, or kindreds of, the Assakenians or Aśvakas. The ruler of the Aspasians is styled a *hyparch*. The chief wealth of the people seems to have consisted in cattle, 230,000 of which were captured by Alexander.