Megasthenes

(3rd c. B.C.E.) Ambassador sent to the
court of Chandragupta Maurya by
Seleucus Nicator, a general in Alexander
the Great’s army who ruled the eastern
part of the empire after Alexander’s
death. Megasthenes lived for many
years in the Mauryan capital,
Pataliputra. His reports of life there are
the first European accounts of India. His
original account no longer exists, but
the fact of its existence is attested to
by the many references to it in the
works of later Greek writers; these
434
Mayapur
writers, however, often voice doubts
about his credibility and veracity. See
also Maurya dynasty.