Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c7.86

c7.86

Capital at Pataliputra. According to Megasthenes who lived at the city, Pāṭaliputra was built at the confluence of the two rivers, Ganges and Son, at *nadī-saṁgama*, as it is called by Kauṭilya [II. 3]. In shape it was an oblong, with a length of 80 stades (=9⅕ miles) and a breadth of 15 stades (=1 mile 1270 yards). The city was protected by a moat which had a depth of 30 cubits (=about 60 feet) and a width of 6 plethra (=200 yards). The moat was thus navigable. It was filled from the waters of the Son. It received the sewage of the city. The city was further protected by a massive timber palisade surrounding it along the moat. The palisade was pierced by loopholes through which archers were to shoot. It had also 64 gates and 570 towers. [Megasthenes, Frag. 25=Strabo, XV. c. 702].