SOPIIAGESENUS, the name given to Asoka by tho Greeks. Evidence exists that Antioellus the Great was slain by an Indo-Scythian prince, called by the Greek writers Sopitagesenus. See Kabul.
soPHisT of India, a term applied to the Brahmans by Arrian (lib. vi. chap. xvi.) and Strabo. The religious ascetics are spoken of as Brachmanes, Germanes or Sarmanes (Sramena), and Sophists. Onesicritus was Bent by Alexander to converse with a body of ascetics, in consequence of their refusing to come to hin-. (Strabo, lib xv.). He found fifteen persons two tniles front the city, naked, and exposed to a burning sun ; 801113C sitting, some standiug, and some lying, but all remained itnmoveable from morning till evening in the attitudes they had adopted. Ile found Calanus lying on stones, and t,o him hc first ad dressed himself. Calanus received him with an affectation of independence, and told him, if he wished to converse, to throw off his clothes and sit down naked on the stones. But Mandanis, the oldest of the party, reproved Calanus, and offered to instruct in the Indian philosophy as far as the means of intercotninunication admitted. Alexander failed to prevail on Mandanis to accompany him ; Calanus, however, did so, but, falling sick in Persia, and refusing to observe the regimen prescribed to him, he determined to burn himself alive. Alexander in vain opposed this intention, and be was atrried to the pile, with a, garland on his head, singing hymus. When he had ascended the heap, he ordered it to be set on fire, and met his fate with a serenity which made a great intpression on the Greeks. A similar
instance of self-immolation is related by Strabo (lib. xv.) of Zarmanochegus, an Indian of Bargora, who had accompanied an etnbassy from his OWD country to Augustus, and burned himself alive at Athens.—Elphin. p. 238.
SOI'lIORA, a. genus of plants belonging to the natural order Leguminoste, said to be so named front an Arabic llama (Sophere) of one of the species. Some species are ormunental shrubs and trees, found in Central and Tropical Asia, also in the warm parts of North America and the equi noctial and sub-tropical parts of South Amenca. The species best known in England are S. Japonica and S. Chinensis. It hes been proposed to engraft the Nepal S. velutina on the Japonica. Being handsome trees, with both leaves and trees differ ing much from European trees, they are well adapted for standing singly in lawns. They aro raised from layers, but also from seeds, end re quire a little protection when young. 1Vight gives Sophora glauca, heptaphylla, and robusta. S. glauca, Lesch., the smooth-leaved Sophora, is a Neilgherry plant, with middle-sized white flowers, tinged with rose colour. S. tetraptera, one of the few leguminous trees of New Zealand, is variable in habit. S. mollis, the Arghawau of the Afghans, is a handsome, yellow-flowered shrub of the Panjab and N.IV. Himalaya. — R. Brown ; Hogg ; TV. Ie.; Voigt ; Gamble.