336 Majou Tod's Accoiml of Greek, Parthiav, and Hindu Medals. 



idea, but only say Menander died when about to carry his arms into 

 Syria. 



The misfortunes which befel Antiochus the Great, at this period, cer- 

 tainly afforded an opening to the Bactrian prince to attempt such an 

 invasion ; but the historians of the Syrian monarch would not have failed 

 to notice such a powerful diversion in favour of the western foes of 

 Antiochus, as the advance oftiie Bactrians to the frontiers of Syria, had 

 it taken place. Menander succeeded to the Bactrian throne at the very 

 time wiien Hannibal took refuge with Antiochus, and instigated him to 

 cope with the soldiers of the mistress of the world ; but the fatal battle of 

 Magnesia shewed tiiat ncitiier Grecian phalanx, Scythian bowmen,* nor a 

 multitude of elephants from India (the tribute of Subhava and his son Gaj), 

 coidd withstand the Roman legions, headed by the Scipios. This very 

 victory, however, proved eventually ruinous to Rome : for the spoils of 

 Asia and her luxuries enervated and corrupted her citizens ; and from 

 this victory, which opened to her the east, is to be dated her decline. 



The Suroi are mentioned in conjunction with the kingdoms of Tessa- 

 rioustus and Sigestis," and the Patalene, which was very near them, so that 

 they could be apj)roachcd without the necessity of invading the territory 

 of Antiochus; which would rather have been presumptuous in Menander 

 or Apollodotus, notwithstanding his misfortunes. 



The Huroi were in fact the Sauras, inhabiting tlie peninsula of Sou- 

 rarasbtra, the Saurasfrcnc and Sijraslrenc already quoted from the Periplus, 

 and the kingdom immediately adjoining, that of Tessariouslus, to tiie east, 

 ward. That the S^pc; of Saurdshtra, and the Syrians of Asia Minor had 

 the same origin, appears from the worship of Surya, or the Sun. I have 

 little doubt, we have more than one " city of the Sun"t in this tract ; indeed, 

 the only temples of the Sun I have met witii in India, are in Saurashtra. 

 The temple raised to Brd, in Tadmort in the Desert, by Solomon, where 



* A body of 1,200 Scytliian horse, armed with bows, claimed the admiration of the Romans. 

 Antiochus had also 1.50 elephants, a great part received from Sophagascnus and other Hindu 

 princes, when he invaded India, after making peace with Euthydemus, the predecessor of 

 Menander. — j4nc. Univ. Hist, page 507. 



•f Heliopolis ( Suryapura ) was one capital of Syria. 



\ Hence its name, Brd-btc. BA ii an idol : so Ferishtra derives it, the idol Bat. This, the 

 capital in future times of the unfortunate Zenobia, was translated by the Greeks to Palmyra ; 

 for it is but a translate of Tad-tar, or Tal-mor, and can have an Indian derivation, from Tar, 

 or Tal, the date, or Palmyra-tree ; and Mor, the head, chief, or crown. 



