Dear Rene,

> Now, King Melinda (82-3) was a "Yona born in 'Kalasi in Alasanda.'" The
> last sounds tantalizingly close to "Alexandria". I have notes about this
> somewhere, but as this post is quite long, will continue at another time.

*****
It is quite probably an Alexandria but not the famous Alexandria in Egypt.
Ever the modest ruler, Alexander founded over a dozen cities called
Alexandria, many of them in Asia Minor and Bactria (covering much of
present-day Afghanistan). These cities include present-day Herat, Ghazni
and Kandahar. It was most likely from one of these Alexandrias that,
according to the Mahavamsa, Dhammarakkhita and his large entourage of monks
travelled to Sri lanka for the inauguration of the Great Stupa.

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge