A Concise History of Science in India c9.s2.44

c9.s2.44

Among the earliest foreign accounts of the use of iron in India is the one by the Greek historian, Herodotus (fifth century B.C.), who mentions that the Indians in the Persian army used cane arrows tipped with iron.b Ktesiasc speaks of two swords of Indian steel presented to him in the Persian Court. Later it has been recorded by Quintus Curtisd that in the gifts which Alexander the Great received from Porus of Taxila (326 B.C.) were 100 'talents' of steel. These facts illustrate beyond any doubt that by the fifth or fourth century B.C. the Indian metal-workers had attained a high degree of perfection in the techniques of producing iron and steel. Even in later times there is enough evidence to show that the Indian iron and steel had become famous, particularly in the early centuries of the Christian era. Pliny refers to swords of good quality made of Indian steel. The Romans were fascinated by the Indian steel which they imported to produce fancy cutleries and armours.e