12-01-2008, 04:50 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Pandyan+Nov 27 2008, 03:55 AM-->QUOTE(Pandyan @ Nov 27 2008, 03:55 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ishwa, I have been waiting for your presence here, I have a query for you.
Is there any truth to this blog entry?
http://controversialhistory.blogspot.com/2...y-in-india.html
Are there any references to Porus (and his defeat) in Indian literature?
[right][snapback]90685[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dear Pandyan, I believe that Alexander may have lost and got frustrated by a number of Indian tribes from the NWFP to Panjab, the Indus, back through Baluchistan. Alexander seems to be forced to leave India through hostile lands. In order to reach back Persepolis he had to split his army. One went down the Indus, his force went through the desert of death. Why jeopardize your life when you are powerful enough to retreat through the so-called conquered NW areas?
The only testimonies we have is from non-Indian sources. We must realize that already from his death till Arrian's time a lot of public relations was being done to make Alexander's achievements even greater. That his commanders (also the authors of his biographies) may have started this process is logical.
There are two main biographical traditions, one is called the good (Arrian's) and the other the vulgate. This standardizing distinction was done in the time of Arrian, when the biographies were more or less having the nature of legendary accounts.
So far, perhaps no one has bothered to search which achievements were really Alexander's and which were of his successor Seleukos Nicator. And which were of the greatest of the Greek conquerors, as per Curtius, named Menander.
Why would Curtius say that Menander was a greater conqueror than Alexander? Because it was he who really entered deeply in the Panjab and it is only Menander who is remembered by name in Indian literature?
The achievements of Seleukus and Menander were added to Alexander's is my guess. Alexander perhaps never crossed the Chenab. He may have won a little battle against Porus the son of king Porus. (there was another Porus beyond the Chenab)
Another myth is that Alexander was surprised by elephants in battle. What nonsense. Elephants together with Indian soldiers were employed in the Persian army against Alexander. The same he encountered against the Assakenians. He got elephants from Omphis. His general Craterus had a force with elephants.
Coupled to this is the conflicting report of heavy rains during which the Macedonians crossed the Jhelum, and next day the elephants and chariots of Porus rushed towards them without any problem.
In short, the propaganda around Alexander was started by his commander biographers, standardized by Arrian and revitalized by western colonial powers.
Is there any truth to this blog entry?
http://controversialhistory.blogspot.com/2...y-in-india.html
Are there any references to Porus (and his defeat) in Indian literature?
[right][snapback]90685[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dear Pandyan, I believe that Alexander may have lost and got frustrated by a number of Indian tribes from the NWFP to Panjab, the Indus, back through Baluchistan. Alexander seems to be forced to leave India through hostile lands. In order to reach back Persepolis he had to split his army. One went down the Indus, his force went through the desert of death. Why jeopardize your life when you are powerful enough to retreat through the so-called conquered NW areas?
The only testimonies we have is from non-Indian sources. We must realize that already from his death till Arrian's time a lot of public relations was being done to make Alexander's achievements even greater. That his commanders (also the authors of his biographies) may have started this process is logical.
There are two main biographical traditions, one is called the good (Arrian's) and the other the vulgate. This standardizing distinction was done in the time of Arrian, when the biographies were more or less having the nature of legendary accounts.
So far, perhaps no one has bothered to search which achievements were really Alexander's and which were of his successor Seleukos Nicator. And which were of the greatest of the Greek conquerors, as per Curtius, named Menander.
Why would Curtius say that Menander was a greater conqueror than Alexander? Because it was he who really entered deeply in the Panjab and it is only Menander who is remembered by name in Indian literature?
The achievements of Seleukus and Menander were added to Alexander's is my guess. Alexander perhaps never crossed the Chenab. He may have won a little battle against Porus the son of king Porus. (there was another Porus beyond the Chenab)
Another myth is that Alexander was surprised by elephants in battle. What nonsense. Elephants together with Indian soldiers were employed in the Persian army against Alexander. The same he encountered against the Assakenians. He got elephants from Omphis. His general Craterus had a force with elephants.
Coupled to this is the conflicting report of heavy rains during which the Macedonians crossed the Jhelum, and next day the elephants and chariots of Porus rushed towards them without any problem.
In short, the propaganda around Alexander was started by his commander biographers, standardized by Arrian and revitalized by western colonial powers.