The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c7.s1.22

c7.s1.22

The philosophical romance, composed in honour of Apollonios of Tyana by Philostratos 'the Athenian' about A. D. 215–18 at the request of the empress Julia Domna, professes to give minute and interesting details of the observations made by the hero of the book in the course of a tour through north-western India, which according to Professor Petrie took place in the cold season of A. D. 43–4. If the details recorded could be trusted this account would be invaluable, but so much of the story is obviously fiction that few statements by the author can be accepted with confidence. Although it is not certain that Apollonios visited India at all, he had access to correct information on certain points, which has been confirmed by modern researches.³