Though Telangana state now happens to be the youngest one in the country, it had been a distinctive entity from ancient times. There were Greek references to Asmaka janapada and Telangana by Megasthenes, Arrian, Pliny the Elder and Ptolem. Pliny the Elder in the monumental works on Natural History mentions tribe Asmagi on the Godavari and its capital was styled as Potali. The Asmaka janapada must have been powerful in ancient times since its capital Potana was listed along with six other ancient states.