Indian Antiquary Vol 32

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 14

8
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1903.
3.
Other particulars.
Of other particulars that may serve as indications of place and time, there are few, if any, in the Acts. In fact, if we leave out the proper names, these Acts might refer to any ancient countries where there were kings and cities. However, in, the short outline of the story given above, a few particulars have been noted that may be of service. We might expect some references to the religions of the countries, and to their priests or ministers; but there are none. The references to plants and animals, ships, buildings, furniture, carriages, money, musical instruments, implements, clothes, etc., yield no information. We can hardly infer anything of the social condition or customs of the people from these references.
Plants. The only plant named is the myrtle. A "cane" is mentioned as used for taking the measurements of the palace to be built for King Gudnaphar.
Animals.The animals named are a lion and dogs at Sandaruk, a black deadly poisonous snake and an ass's colt near the city of King Gudnaphar, the "cattle" (Greek inofiya) which drew the "chariot" when St. Thomas journeyed with Șifür to the city of King Mazdai, and a troop of wild asses encountered on the way. Wild asses are found in the Indus Valley; but they are also found in Beluchistan, Persia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, etc. Marco Polo reported them on the road from Yezd to Kerman,
Buildings. As to buildings, there is just the bare mention of palace, house or prison, and we learn also that King Gudnaphar and his brother were baptized in a bath or bath-house, and that for seven days beforehand no one was allowed to bathe therein.
Carriages and Furniture. There are the "chariot" (Greek 8xnua) above mentioned, a palanquin (80 Dr. Wright thinks he had better translate the Syriac word) in which Mygdonia was carried, and a seat with two legs, with which King Mazdai beat St. Thomas about the head. Also, Sifür says, "for three years no table has been laid in my house, and my wife and daughter have not sat at it."
Some sort of a street fountain is mentioned, for the wife of Sifür says, "I was going along the street, and had come to the pipe that throweth up water."
Clothing. We are told how Karish took the turban off one of the servants, and pat it round St. Thomas' neck in order to drag him along.
Linen cloths were used to prepare the body of the apostle for the tomb. Was linen ever known in India ?
Money is mentioned; St. Thomas was sold to Habban for twenty pieces of silver; 20 zūzē and 360 zūzē are named as bribes to King Mazdai's jailors.
There is a Hebrew flute-girl, and there are cup-bearers at the marriage feast at Sandarük.
Mygdonia has a nurse, with whom she slept to avoid the importunities of her husband. He is stated to have been afraid of Mygdonia, his wife, "for she was far superior to him in her wealth, and also in her understanding."
The wife of Sifür describes the devils who torment her as black men.
St. Thomas was buried "in the sepulchre in which the ancient kings were buried."
None of the above allusions seem to specially suggest India, ancient or modern. Some of them would seem to exclude Southern India as the scene of the apostle's martyrdom. But we cannot lay any particular stress upon them, in any direction,