Editing Ashoka (section)

== Date ==
[[File:Khalsi rock edict of Ashoka.jpg|thumb|The [[Major Rock Edict|Major Rock Edict No.13]] of Ashoka, mentions the Greek kings [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochus]], [[Ptolemy II of Egypt|Ptolemy]], [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonus]], [[Magas of Cyrene|Magas]] and [[Alexander II of Epirus|Alexander]] by name, as recipients of his teachings.]]
The exact date of Ashoka's birth is not certain, as the extant contemporary Indian texts did not record such details. It is known that he lived in the 3rd century BCE, as his inscriptions mention several contemporary rulers whose dates are known with more certainty, such as [[Antiochus II Theos]], [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]], [[Antigonus II Gonatas]], [[Magas of Cyrene]], and Alexander (of [[Alexander II of Epirus|Epirus]] or [[Alexander of Corinth|Corinth]]).{{sfn|Lahiri|2015|p=25}} Thus, Ashoka must have been born sometime in the late 4th century BCE or early 3rd century BCE ({{circa|304 BCE}}),{{sfn|Lahiri|2015|p=24}} and ascended the throne around 269-268 BCE.{{sfn|Lahiri|2015|p=25}}

{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=400|caption_align=center
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| header=Pataliputra at the time of Ashoka
| image1   = Mauryan ruins of pillared hall at Kumrahar site of Pataliputra ASIEC 1912-13.jpg
| caption1 = Ruins of pillared hall at [[Kumrahar]] site at Pataliputra.
| image2   = Pataliputra_capital,_Bihar_Museum,_Patna,_3rd_century_BCE.jpg
| caption2 = The [[Pataliputra capital]], 4th–3rd c. BCE.
| footer=Ashoka was probably born in the city of [[Pataliputra]]. Remains of the city from around that time have been found through excavations in central areas of the modern city of [[Patna]].
| footer_align = center
}}