Match the Greek rulers named in Ashoka's edicts with their regions: (A) Antiochus II (B) Ptolemy II (C) Antigonus II (D) Magas, with (i) Cyrene (ii) Macedonia (iii) Egypt (iv) Syria.

The correct answer is D, (A)-(iv), (B)-(iii), (C)-(ii), (D)-(i). Ashoka's Thirteenth Rock Edict names the Hellenistic kings to whom he sent dhamma missions, and their kingdoms are known from Greek history: Antiochus II Theos ruled the Seleucid kingdom of Syria, Ptolemy II Philadelphus ruled Egypt, Antigonus II Gonatas ruled Macedonia and Magas ruled Cyrene in north Africa. Because all four reigned in the middle of the third century BCE, the edict is the firmest peg for dating Ashoka's reign.

Options A, B and C each break at least one of these pairs. Option A sends Antiochus to Cyrene and Magas to Syria, option B puts Antigonus in Cyrene and Magas in Macedonia, and option C moves Antiochus to Egypt and Ptolemy to Syria. The safe way to answer is to fix Ptolemy with Egypt and Antigonus with Macedonia first, after which only option D survives.