The Ashokan inscriptions are a collection of inscriptions that were commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka during his reign from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. These inscriptions are important historical artifacts as they provide valuable information about Ashoka's policies, his conversion to Buddhism, and his efforts to spread the teachings of Buddha throughout his empire. The Ashokan inscriptions were written in multiple languages, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the Mauryan Empire.

The correct answer is option C, which states that the Ashokan inscriptions were written in Prakrit, Aramaic, and Greek. Let's explore each of these languages in detail:

1. Prakrit: Prakrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was spoken in various regions of ancient India. It was a vernacular language and was commonly used for everyday communication. Many of the Ashokan inscriptions were written in Prakrit, which made them accessible to the common people.

2. Aramaic: Aramaic is a Semitic language that was widely spoken in the ancient Near East. It was the administrative language of the Achaemenid Empire, which had significant influence over the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka used Aramaic for his edicts that were meant to be sent to the western regions of his empire, where Aramaic was commonly understood.

3. Greek: Greek was the language of the Hellenistic kingdoms that had a significant presence in the northwestern regions of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka used Greek inscriptions to communicate with the Greek-speaking communities and to ensure that his edicts reached a wider audience.

These three languages were chosen strategically by Ashoka to reach out to different linguistic and cultural groups within his empire. The use of multiple languages in the Ashokan inscriptions highlights Ashoka's efforts to promote religious tolerance and communicate his policies effectively to a diverse population.