Porus
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For the mythological figures, see Porus (Greek mythology) and Porus (Roman mythology).
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Le_Brun,_Alexander_and_Porus.jpg
Le_Brun,_Alexander_and_Porus.jpg
Alexander and Porus by Charles Le Brun, 1673
Porus was an Indian ruler who fought the battle of the Hydaspes River with Alexander the Great in 326 BC. After he was defeated by Alexander, Alexander restored him to his realms, and Porus became a vassal.
Porus was said to be "5 cubits tall", either the implausible 7½ ft (2.3 m) assuming an 18-inch cubit, or the more likely 6 ft (1.8 m) if a 14-inch Macedonian cubit was meant.
The identification of Porus with figures in Indian records is uncertain; possibilities include Purushotthama, Parvataka, or Parvatesha.