The Greeks in Bactria and India c10.s5.136

c10.s5.136

⁶ In *SP Stud.* p. 11 I used the identity Asii-Arsi; it is really the other way round. The instances given by F. W. K. Müller, *Berlin SB* 1918 p. 579, to prove this identity have been criticised by P. Pelliot, *JA* 224, 1934, pp. 29-31; he admits however that the Chinese Po-sse for Persia (Parsa) would imply a form *Pasi, were it not fifth-century A.D. and too late to use. But the Greek form Passagadae, used by an Alexander-historian of the fourth century B.C., removes Pelliot's objection; and indeed it is possible that Po-sse in the *Wei-shu* may mean not Persia but the Parsii (reasons in *SP Stud.* p. 12). The certain equivalent *Pasi-Parsii therefore guarantees Asii-Arsi, which in view of Pliny (p. 285) may still be required.