[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c12.36 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c12.36 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c12.36 - **Language:** English ### [c12.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.36) ¹ Arrian, \*Anab.\* iv, 28; Diodorus, xviii, 86; Curtius, viii, 11; Strabo, xv, 8. Different people will necessarily form different notions of the circuit of a mountain mass, as they include or exclude subsidiary ranges; but the estimate of Diodorus that the circuit was 100 \*stadia\*, or 11½ miles, probably is nearer the truth than Arrian's estimate of 200 \*stadia\*. On the other hand, Arrian guesses the minimum elevation as being 11 \*stadia\*, or nearly 6,700 feet, which is a more reasonable figure than the 16 \*stadia\* of Diodorus. All attempts to identify the position of Aornos have failed. The plausible identification with Mahāban was shattered by Sir M. A. Stein's exploration, as recorded in the \*Report of Archaeol. Survey Work in the N. W. Frontier Province, &c.\*, for 1904–5. It is difficult to believe that the Greek authors can have been mistaken in placing this fortress on the Indus. The Greek commanders were familiar with that river, which they were engaged in bridging. The Mahāban site fails to satisfy the conditions, not only for the reasons stated by Sir M. A. Stein, but also because, according to Curtius (Bk. viii, ch. 12). Alexander, after leaving Embolima, which was not far from Aornos, did not reach the Indus until he had made sixteen encampments. That statement implies a marching distance of at least 70 or 80 miles even in difficult country. I agree with Sir Bindon Blood that Aornos must be looked for on the Indus, higher up than Mahāban, and perhaps near Baio, which is beyond the sharp bend above Kotkai. We must remember that the Indus washed the \*southern\* face of the stronghold (see Holdich, \*The Gates of India\*, p. 121). I think it probable that Alexander may have marched back through the Ambēlā Pass, and then turned at or near Rustam towards the river. He must certainly have taken a wide circuit. Mr. Merk does not accept the evidence that Aornos was on the Indus, and would look for it in Suwāt (Swat) (\*J. Roy. Soc. of Arts\*, 1911, p. 760). Earlier speculations on the subject will be found recorded in Appendix D of the second edition of this work. It is not now necessary to reprint that disquisition. - [Previous: c12.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.35) - [Next: c12.37](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.37) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12) ## Linked texts (1) - [Historiae Alexandri Magni](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.curtius.8.11) — Q. Curtius Rufus, Latin --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.36) · Pramāṇa