Historical Geography of Ancient India c9.71

c9.71

*Brāhmaṇābād*.—The little state of Patalene as the Greeks called it was probably named after its capital city Pattala. Patalene is generally identified with the Indus delta and its capital town Patala (Skt. Prasthala) is supposed to have stood at or near the site of modern Brāhmaṇābād. According to Diodoros the constitution of Patala (Tauala) was similar to that of Sparta. There was a council of elders vested with the supreme authority in the management and conduct of usual administration. According to Strabo (H. and F., II, 252-253) Patalene long after Alexander's invasion passed under the Bactrian Greeks. Later on it came to the hands of the Śakas or Indo-Scythian rulers from the clutches of the Indo-Greek rulers. For further details, vide B. C. Law, *Indological Studies*, Pt. I, p. 37; *C.H.I.*, 1, 378-79; *I.A.*, 1884, 354.