Iron in Ancient India c5.9

c5.9

Next coming to historical times we find Megasthenes, the celebrated Greek ambassador, who visited India in 302 B.C., bearing testimony to the fact that Indian soil had “underground numerous veins of all sorts of metals; for it contained much gold and silver and copper and iron in no small quantity, and even tin and other metals, which are employed in making articles of use and ornaments, as well as the implements and accoutrements of war.” During the invasion of Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. the Indian King Porus, who was defeated, gave a present of 40 lbs. of steel to the Greek conqueror, showing in what high