Megasthenes | |
|---|---|
| Μεγασθένης | |
| Died | c. 290 BCE |
| Occupation(s) | Historian and diplomat |
| Notable work | Indica |
Megasthenes (/mɪˈɡæsθɪniːz/ mi-GAS-thi-neez; Ancient Greek: Μεγασθένης, died c. 290 BCE) was an ancient Greek historian, indologist, diplomat, ethnographer and explorer in the Hellenistic period. He described India in his book Indica, which is now lost, but has been partially reconstructed from literary fragments found in later authors that quoted his work. Megasthenes was the first person from the Western world to leave a written description of India.[1]