Calānus

, a celebrated Indian philosopher, one of the gymnosophists. He followed Alexander in his Indian expedition, and being sick, in his 83rd year, he ordered a pile to be raised, upon which he mounted, decked with flowers and garlands, to the astonishment of the king and of the army. When the pile was fired, Alexander asked him whether he had anything to say. “No,” said he, “I shall meet you again in a very short time.” Alexander died three months after in Babylon. Strabo , bk. 15 .— Cicero , de Div in at i one , bk. 1 , ch. 23 .— Arrian & Plutarch , Alexander .— Ælian , bk. 2 , ch. 41 ; bk. 5 , ch. 6 .— Valerius Maximus , bk. 1 , ch. 8 .