Sophagasenos, also spelt Sophagasenus or Sophagasenas
(
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
: Subhagasena), was a local Indian king ruling in Kabul and
Kapisa valley (
Paropamisadae of the classical writings) during the last decades of 3rd century BCE. Sophagasenus finds reference only in "The Histories" of
Polybius
Polybius (; , ; ) was a Greek historian of the middle Hellenistic period. He is noted for his work , a universal history documenting the rise of Rome in the Mediterranean in the third and second centuries BC. It covered the period of 264–146 ...
.
Names
Sophagasenus is probably derived from the name Shubhagasena.
Polybius on Sophagasenus
Polybius
Polybius (; , ; ) was a Greek historian of the middle Hellenistic period. He is noted for his work , a universal history documenting the rise of Rome in the Mediterranean in the third and second centuries BC. It covered the period of 264–146 ...
(), the Greek historian, makes reference to Sophagasenus in context with
Antiochus III
Antiochus III the Great (; , ; 3 July 187 BC) was the sixth ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 223 to 187 BC. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the rest of West Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC. Rising to th ...
's expedition across the Caucasus Indicus (
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range in Central Asia, Central and South Asia to the west of the Himalayas. It stretches from central and eastern Afghanistan into northwestern Pakistan and far southeastern Tajikistan. The range forms the wester ...
) in around 206 BCE. Having crossed the Caucasus Mountains, Antiochus moved up to Kabul and met Sophagasenus the Indian king with whom he renewed league and friendship he had made previously. and received more elephants until he had one hundred and fifty of them all together. He then returned home via Arachosia, Drangiana and Karmania.
[Ref: Polybius, XI.34.11-12] No other source except Polybius makes any reference to Sophagasenus.
See also
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Kamboja Kingdom
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Apraca dynasty
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Bajaur casket
Notes
References
Sources
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{{Authority control
Indian warriors
3rd-century BC Indian monarchs
Afghan monarchs