Porus or Poros ( ; 326–321 BC) was an ancient Indian king whose territory spanned the region between the Vitasta River (Hydaspes) and Asikni River (Acesines) in the Sapta Sindhu, which is modern day Punjab and surrounding regions. He is only mentioned in Greek sources, said to be a warrior with exceptional skills, Porus fought against Alexander the Great in the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BC). Following the conflict, Porus retained his kingship. Alexander not only reinstated him as his satrap but also expanded his jurisdiction to include dominion over lands to the south-east extending as far as the Hyphasis (Vipasha). Porus reportedly died sometime between 321 and 315 BC.
Sources
The only contemporary information available on Porus and his kingdom is from Greek sources, whereas Indian sources do not mention him. The Greek sources differ considerably among themselves.
Identification
Purus
Michael Witzel conjectures that Porus was a king of the Pūrus, a Vedic tribe, who existed as a marginal power in Sapta Sindhu after their defeat in the Battle of the Ten Kings. Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri largely agreed with this identification. This identification is based on the fact that multiple Greek histories — Indica by Arrian, Geographica by Strabo, and Bibliotheca historica by Diodorus Siculus — note Megasthenes to have described an Indian tribe called Sourasenoi who worshiped one "Herakles" and originated from the lands of Mathura and Yamuna.