Clearchus of Soli

He wrote extensively on eastern cultures, and is thought to have traveled to the Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum (Alexandria on the Oxus) in modern Afghanistan.

Clearchus wrote extensively around 320 BCE on Oriental cultures, from Israel to Persia to India, and several fragments from him are known.

His book "Of Education" (Greek: Περὶ παιδείας, Peri paideiās) was cited by Diogenes Laërtius.

In another text, Josephus the first-century Romano-Jewish scholar claimed that Clearchus has reported a dialogue with Aristotle, where the philosopher states that the Hebrews were descendants of the Indian philosophers: Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calami, and by the Syrians Judaei, and took their name from the country they inhabit, which is called Judea; but for the name of their city, it is a very awkward one, for they call it Jerusalem.The original term used for the Calami people in Greek was Καλανοί[2] (Kalanoi), which is derived from the Indian ascetic Calanus.

The precepts were placed by a Greek named Clearchus, thought to be Clearchus of Soli, who had copied them from Delphi: Whence Klearchos, having copied them carefully, set them up, shining from afar, in the sanctuary of KineasClearchus of Soli was a contemporary and compatriot of Stasanor (born in the same city of Soli, in Cyprus), who was a general of Alexander the Great and later satrap of Bactria and Sogdiana.