Embassy of Megasthenes

Abstract

The author of the article comes to the conclusion that the famous embassy of Megasthenes to India took place in the context of an acute conflict between Seleucus Nicator and Candragupta Maurya. It could be only the military campaign of Seleucus against Mauryan Empire around 303 BC. As a result of diplomatic negotiations, a peace treaty was concluded, sealed by marriage alliance – apparently, the daughter of Seleucus became the wife of the heir to the Mauryan throne. Since Megasthenes speaks of repeated visits to Candragupta, one can think that he could accompany the Seleucid princess to Pataliputra. Recent attempts to date the embassy of Megasthenes and publication of his “Indika” to a much earlier period or, on the contrary, to attribute the conclusion of the peace treaty to the beginning of the 3rd century, clearly contradict the reports of ancient historical sources. Greek cultural influence in India of the 3rd century BC can be explained not only by peaceful relations of India with Hellenistic world, but also by the dynastic ties between Mauryan Empire and the royal court of the Seleucids. Description of India by Megasthenes, published at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, is the most important Greek source about Mauryan Empire. However, the content of this text – contrary to the opinion established in historiography – does not give grounds to talk about Megasthenes’ long stay in Pataliputra, about his travels around India or about the author’s acquaintance with Indian languages.