EB - Countdown to Open Beta: Baktria

**Ellesthyan** · 05-17-2005, 15:42

extremely interesting story, Teleklos. Though the site where it is seems a little... overinterested in mythical places. It does beg the question wether there are no Indian sources on Bactria? Apparently they've bashed at least the north west of India quite and should've left some impression. White colored, powerful troops from such a backward place as Bactria would have been noticed, I think, by the Indians.

**jerby** · 05-17-2005, 16:42

never would have guessed sarcasm is iberian. where is khevlan is american isnt he?

**Aymar de Bois Mauri** · 05-17-2005, 17:56

Originally Posted by jerby

never would have guessed sarcasm is iberian. where is khevlan is american isnt he?

khelvan, not khevlan. And yes, he is an US citizen.

**khelvan** · 05-17-2005, 19:06

Originally Posted by jerby

never would have guessed sarcasm is iberian. where is khevlan is american isnt he?

是，我是美国人

**Dux Corvanus** · 05-17-2005, 19:13

Originally Posted by khelvan

是，我是美国人

So hard-headed. That's why we call him kevlar.

Mmmm, Chinese characters look like tiny TV antennas to me...

**TheTank** · 05-17-2005, 19:15

Originally Posted by khelvan

是，我是美国人

A Japanese American?!

**Dux Corvanus** · 05-17-2005, 19:17

Originally Posted by TheTank

A Japanese American?!

He just committed seppuku!!!

**khelvan** · 05-17-2005, 19:28

Originally Posted by TheTank

A Japanese American?!

我不是日本人

**TheTank** · 05-17-2005, 19:42

Originally Posted by khelvan

我不是日本人

I am not the Japanese..........?!

Babelfish ;-)

是，我是美国人=Yes, I am an American

This is funny game

**DemonArchangel** · 05-17-2005, 19:45

So you're Chinese Khelvan? Or did you use a translator?

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 05-17-2005, 16:56

Originally Posted by Ellesthyan

extremely interesting story, Teleklos. Though the site where it is seems a little... overinterested in mythical places. It does beg the question wether there are no Indian sources on Bactria? Apparently they've bashed at least the north west of India quite and should've left some impression. White colored, powerful troops from such a backward place as Bactria would have been noticed, I think, by the Indians.

Frank Holt, the guy who wrote the article, is the most trustworthy source that has yet written on Baktria (IMHO). He's done a lot to break down the myths of Baktria without constructing something else that's imaginary. Mostly a numismatist. The part about India and their impression there is very interesting, but virtually nothing survives in the climate (stone being an exception) and outside of oral history that was later transcribed and word of mouth that reached the greeks (Plutarch knew of Menander-the great Baktrian-Indian king, but didn't write a history of his life), there is little to go on. Maybe some archaeology will help clear it up one day, but it will always remain obscure. A century or so after arriving, the Baktrians were mostly absorbed into Indian culture as a whole. Art historians have had a blast with stone sculptures though and some big controversies have occurred over greek influence on early indian sculptures of Buddha and other religious themes. I highly recommend Holt's book "Thundering Zeus", even Tarn's or Sidky's histories of Baktria if you can't get Holt.

**Angadil** · 05-18-2005, 15:59

Originally Posted by Ellesthyan

extremely interesting story, Teleklos. Though the site where it is seems a little... overinterested in mythical places. It does beg the question wether there are no Indian sources on Bactria? Apparently they've bashed at least the north west of India quite and should've left some impression. White colored, powerful troops from such a backward place as Bactria would have been noticed, I think, by the Indians.

The Graeco-Bactrians and Indo-Greeks, under the names of Yavanas and Yonakas (=Ionians, i.e Greeks) did leave some traces in Indian sources, though its usefulness is limited. Some examples:

The most extensive and better known is, of course the Milindapanha (Milinda's Questions). A buddhist treatise where the Indo-Greek king Milinda (Menander I Soter) maintains philosophical conversations with the buddhist monk Nagasena. There are references to the structure of Menander's army (prominence of cavalry, inclusion of elephants and a doubtful mention of chariots), and to a possible 500-strong royal boydguard.

The Mahabharata also mentions Yavana mounted warriors and we hear of 3.000 Yavana riders, "highly honored among the heroes". In cavalry-rich Bactria the "Companions" might have been that many

In the Agnimitra, an Indian drama by writer Kalidasa, there is an account of a battle between a Yavana king (seemingly Menander I again) and king Vasumitra, of the Sunga dynasty that might have taken place on the banks of the Indus around 150 BCE. The Yavana's king cavalry is mentioned, but no other troop types.

And that's pretty much all I know of. It does seems to match, however, the prominence of cavalry on the Bactrian military that we can infer from other sources (the 10.000 horsemen at the Arius River in Polybius, frequent depictions of horsemen and of the kings as riders or with cavalry gear in coins).

**Turin** · 05-18-2005, 22:39

Hey Khelvan, are you actually Chinese then?

Anyway, to test your theories about Japanese and Chinese compatability:

貴方は中国人でしょうね？どうでもいい．．．
とにかく、中国人ではありませんでしたら、貴方の中国語が本当に凄いですよ！

And just for the record:

我也不是日本人！
湖南，长沙，毛泽东的老乡！