What Was the πάτριος νόμος of the Sophists with Whom Onesicritus Conversed (Strab. 15.1.64): Some Fresh Data from Vedic Sources

Tiziana Pontillo

2024-01-01

---

Abstract

The present paper focuses on one of the testimonies handed down by Strabo in book XV of his Geographia, namely that attributed to Onesicritus, the renowned helmsman in Alexander’s fleet who was sent by Alexander himself to converse with this group. Following in the footsteps of some Indologists and Greek history and literature scholars, our investigation will concentrate mainly on the single episode of Calanus’ self-incineration, with the aim of trying to understand whether these aspects rely on a specific tradition, particularly Brahmanical or non-Brahmanical doctrine. On the basis of some Vedic sources dealing with the leader’s self-immolation a slight change to one of the most authoritative current hypotheses on this question will be proposed.