Megasthenes' Indica

This book presents a new translation of Megasthenes' Indica, offering a comprehensive view of ancient Indian geography and culture.

This book offers a fresh translation of all surviving fragments from the account of India written by Megasthenes around 310 BCE. It stands as the most comprehensive account of Indian geography, history, and customs available to the classical world. The work, known as Megasthenes' Indica, represents a significant contribution to ethnography and marks a pivotal shift in Hellenistic literature. Before Alexander the Great's expedition to India in 326–325 BCE, much about the region was unknown to the Greeks. Megasthenes, serving as an ambassador in the Maurya capital of Pataliputra, provided crucial insights that shaped Greek understanding of India.

The writings of Megasthenes have largely survived only in fragments, cited by later Greek and Latin authors. This translation by Stoneman compiles all the plausible writings attributed to Megasthenes, encompassing a wide range of topics. From intricate details about social hierarchies and the royal household to vivid accounts of elephant hunting and insights into Indian philosophical thought, Megasthenes' Indica is invaluable. It serves as the only contemporary written source from the time of the Maurya kingdom of Candragupta, a period when indigenous writing was not yet established.

This book is not just for classical scholars interested in Hellenistic history and cultural perspectives. It also serves as a critical resource for those studying early Indian history, providing a consolidated and reliable account that aids in bridging gaps in the historical narrative, especially for scholars who may not specialize in Greek studies.