Deimachus
3rd-century BC Greek writer and diplomat
Deimachus or Daimachus (; Ancient Greek: Δηΐμαχος or Δαΐμαχος) was a Greek from Plataeae, who lived during the third-century BCE. He became an ambassador to the court of the Mauryan ruler Bindusara "Amitragatha" (son of Chandragupta Maurya) in Pataliputra in India.
Deimachus was sent by Antiochus I Soter.
As an ambassador, he was the successor to the famous ambassador and historian Megasthenes. Both of them were mentioned by Strabo.
Both of these men were sent [as] ambassadors to Palimbothra (Pataliputra): Megasthenes to Sandrocottus, Deimachus to Allitrochades his son.
Deimachus apparently wrote extensively on India, and is quoted as a reference in geographical matters, although his works are now lost.
It is likely there are more than 3000 stadia, but taking this number, if we add thereto the 30,000 stadia, which Deimachus states there are between [the southern extremity of India] and the country of the Bactrians and Sogdians, we shall find both of these nations lie beyond the temperate zone and habitable earth.
The computations of Megasthenes and Deïmachus are more moderate, for they estimate the distance from the Southern Sea to Caucasus at above 20,000 stadia.
Strabo, however, disputed these figures, and some of the fanciful accounts of both men, although they also brought extensive knowledge about India.
Generally speaking, the men who hitherto have written on the affairs of India, were a set of liars.
“Deimachus” enters the record as 3rd-century BC Greek writer and diplomat. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Deimachus, 3rd-century and Greek can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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The entry’s evidential value lies in the named roles, institutions and publications that can be tested against primary documentation. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 10, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q5252438. VIAF identifies the subject as 15159722. 2 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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