ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the relationship of the Greeks with the Mauryas, especially with the most famous Mauryan Emperor, Aśoka, known from his edicts as Piyadassi. The policy of the Dhamma, which Aśoka proclaimed in his edicts, addressed also to the Greeks living on the frontiers of his kingdom, is analysed here. This policy is explored in the context of drawing Aśoka’s character, both in history and in memory. Of major importance for the topic of the present book is historical Aśoka, the author of the edicts, but it is also important to notice the lasting memory of legendary Aśoka, which survived among the Buddhists and was shaped in the context of anti-Brahman and anti-Śuṅga Buddhist-Mauryan propaganda. Later in this chapter, it is shown how Aśoka’s policy could appeal to the Greeks. Helpful here is the earlier presented theory of the middle ground.
