Kandahar Sophytos Inscription

The Kandahar Sophytos Inscription is an inscription in Greek made by Sophytos, son of Naratos, in the 2nd century BCE, in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The inscription is written on a square limestone plaque, which was probably part of a wall. The inscription, although bought on a market, is thought to have come from Old Kandahar, the supposed ancient Alexandria in Arachosia. The text is written in a very high level Greek language, displaying a real refinement of Greek culture so far east in Kandahar. The verses are in the sophisticated acrostich form. Sophytos and Naratos are not Greek names. They may have been Indian, their actual names being possibly Subhūti and Nārada. The name "Sophytos" is also known from a series of 4th-3rd century Greek coins belonging to the eponymous Satrap Sophytos, who is otherwise unknown, and whom the Sophytos of the inscription may or may not have been a descendant. According to the inscription, Sophytos was ruined in early life, but later rebuilt his fortune through fortitude. Some authors consider that his ruin may be due to the invasion of Arachosia by the Greco-Bactrians in the 2nd century BCE, supposing that the family Sophytos had been Hellenized Indian in the service of the Maurya Empire. One hypothesis regarding the inscription's historical context put forward is: Sophytos's family might have been of Indian origin.

Monument data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).