ANDRAGORUS AND THE SUNGÇÖS QUADRIGA

[Dr. Pal]

Dear Nick,I think it is important to note that Sasigupta played a silent role in many of AlexanderGÇÖs victories. Almost no one realised the importance of my statement in this forum that Andragorus was the same as Androcottos or Sandrocottos. Andargorus' coins have been dated to a later era but there were some scholars who realised that this is not quite correct. I think it is not proper to see Alexander only through Arrian, Plutarch and Diodorus. So much has been written about the SunGÇÖs quadriga on AndragorusGÇÖ coins but no one realised that the Sun in Sanskrit is Aruna and Andragorus is the same as Arunadas or Orontes (Olmstead gives the name as Aroandas). Even at Hydaspes Meroes almost pleads for Alexander. Cahnadragupta's rise coincides with the fall of Alexander and it is natural to see a link between the two.With best regards,Dr. Pal

[Dr. Pal]

Dear Nick,There is another meaning of the word Aruna, i.e. the Dawn as personified by the charioteer of the Sun which appears to be more appropriate for the interpretation of the coin.With best regards,Dr. Pal