The Anabasis of Alexander : $b or, The history of the wars and conquests of Alexander the Great

CHAP. I. Death of Philip and Accession of Alexander.—His Wars with the Thracians 8 II. Battle with the Triballians ...

I. Capture of Mitylene by the Persians.—Death of Memnon 78 II. The Persians capture Tenedus.—They are Defeated at Sea ...

I. Conquest of Egypt.—Foundation of Alexandria 140 II. Foundation of Alexandria.—Events in the Aegean 142 III. Alexander visits the Temple of ...

I. Rebellion of the Sogdianians 205 II. Capture of Five Cities in Two Days 206 III. Storming of Cyropolis.—Revolt o...

I. Alexander at Nysa 265 II. Alexander at Nysa 267 III. Incredulity of Eratosthenes.—Pa...

I. Preparations for a Voyage down the Indus 317 II. Voyage down the Hydaspes 318 III. Voyage down the Hydaspes (_cont...

I. Alexander’s Plans.—The Indian Philosophers 369 II. Alexander’s Dealings with the Indian Sages 371 III. Self-sacrifice of the Indian Ca...

DEATH OF PHILIP AND ACCESSION OF ALEXANDER.—HIS WARS WITH THE THRACIANS. It is said that Philip died[14] when Pythodemus was archon at Athens,[15] and that his son Alexander,[16] ...

BATTLE WITH THE TRIBALLIANS. Alexander sent the booty away southward to the cities on the seashore,[27] entrusting to Lysanias and Philotas[28] the duty of setting it up for sale....

ALEXANDER AT THE DANUBE AND IN THE COUNTRY OF THE GETAE. On the third day after the battle, Alexander reached the river Ister, which is the largest of all the rivers in Europe, tr...

ALEXANDER DESTROYS THE CITY OF THE GETAE.—THE AMBASSADORS OF THE CELTS. They crossed over by night to a spot where the corn stood high; and in this way they reached the bank more ...

REVOLT OF CLITUS AND GLAUCIAS. He then advanced into the land of the Agrianians and Paeonians,[50] where messengers reached him, who reported that Clitus, son of Bardylis,[51] had...

DEFEAT OF CLITUS AND GLAUCIAS. Then Alexander drew up his army in such a way that the depth of the phalanx was 120 men; and stationing 200 cavalry on each wing, he ordered them to...

REVOLT OF THEBES (_September_, B.C. 335). While these events were occurring, some of the exiles who had been banished from Thebes, coming to the city by night, and being brought i...

FALL OF THEBES. But Ptolemy, son of Lagus, tells us that Perdiccas, who had been posted in the advanced guard of the camp with his own brigade, and was not far from the enemy’s st...

DESTRUCTION OF THEBES. This was felt by the Greeks to be a general calamity for it struck the rest of the Greeks with no less consternation than it did those who had themselves ta...

ALEXANDER’S DEALINGS WITH ATHENS. As soon as news of the calamity which had befallen the Thebans reached the other Greeks, the Arcadians, who had set out from their own land for t...

ALEXANDER CROSSES THE HELLESPONT AND VISITS TROY. Having settled these affairs, he returned into Macedonia. He then offered to the Olympian Zeus the sacrifice which had been insti...

ALEXANDER AT THE TOMB OF ACHILLES.—MEMNON’S ADVICE REJECTED BY THE PERSIAN GENERALS. When he went up to Ilium, Menoetius the pilot crowned him with a golden crown; after him Chare...

BATTLE OF THE GRANICUS (B.C. 334). Meantime Alexander was advancing to the river Granicus,[121] with his army arranged for battle, having drawn up his heavy-armed troops in a doub...

ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOSTILE ARMIES. Having spoken thus, he sent Parmenio to command upon the left wing, while he led in person on the right. And at the head of the right wing he pl...

DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE OF THE GRANICUS. The Persians began the contest by hurling missiles from above in the direction where the men of Amyntas and Socrates were the first to r...

DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS.—LOSS ON BOTH SIDES. The Persians themselves, as well as their horses, were now being struck on their faces with the lances from all sides, and were being r...

ALEXANDER IN SARDIS AND EPHESUS. Having appointed Calas to the post of viceroy of the territory which had been under the rule of Arsites, and having commanded the inhabitants to p...

ALEXANDER MARCHES TO MILETUS AND OCCUPIES THE ISLAND OF LADE. Men now came to him both from Magnesia[149] and Tralles, offering to surrender those cities; and to them he sent Parm...

SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF MILETUS. At this time Glaucippus, one of the most notable men in Miletus, was sent out to Alexander by the people and the Grecian mercenaries, to whom rather ...

SIEGE OF HALICARNASSUS.—ABORTIVE ATTACK ON MYNDUS. Alexander now resolved to disband his fleet, partly from lack of money at the time, and partly because he saw that his own fleet...

SIEGE OF HALICARNASSUS. A few days after this, two Macedonian hoplites of the brigade of Perdiccas, living in the same tent and being messmates, happened in the course of conversa...

SIEGE OF HALICARNASSUS. A few days after this, when Alexander again brought his military engines up to the inner brick wall, and was himself superintending the work, a sortie in m...

DESTRUCTION OF HALICARNASSUS.—ADA, QUEEN OF CARIA. Then Orontobates and Memnon, the commanders of the Persians, met and decided from the state of affairs that they could not hold ...

ALEXANDER IN LYCIA AND PAMPHYLIA. Some of the Macedonians who served in Alexander’s army had married just before he undertook the expedition. He thought that he ought not to treat...

TREASON OF ALEXANDER, SON OF AËROPUS. While the king was still near Phaselis he received information that Alexander, son of Aëropus, who was not only one of the Companions, but al...

ALEXANDER IN PAMPHYLIA.—CAPTURE OF ASPENDUS AND SIDE. Alexander then, moving from Phaselis, sent part of his army to Perga through the mountains, where the Thracians had levelled ...

ALEXANDER IN PHRYGIA AND PISIDIA. The greater part of Aspendus had been built upon a strong and precipitous rock, at the very foot of which flows the river Eurymedon[189]; but rou...

OPERATIONS IN PISIDIA. While he was there, ambassadors came to him from the Selgians, who are also Pisidian barbarians, inhabiting a large city, and being warlike. Because they ha...

ALEXANDER IN PHRYGIA. Thence he went into Phrygia, passing by the lake called Ascania,[190] in which salt is naturally concreted. The natives use this salt, and do not need the se...

CAPTURE OF MITYLENE BY THE PERSIANS.—DEATH OF MEMNON. Soon after this, Memnon, whom King Darius had appointed commander of the whole fleet and of the entire sea-coast, with the de...

THE PERSIANS CAPTURE TENEDUS.—THEY ARE DEFEATED AT SEA. After accomplishing this, Pharnabazus sailed to Lycia, taking with him the Grecian mercenaries; but Autophradates sailed to...

ALEXANDER AT GORDIUM. When Alexander arrived at Gordium, he was seized with an ardent desire to go up into the citadel, which contained the palace of Gordius and his son Midas. He...

CONQUEST OF CAPPADOCIA.—ALEXANDER’S ILLNESS AT TARSUS. The next day he sent out to Ancyra[214] in Galatia, where he was met by an embassy from the Paphlagonians, offering to surre...

ALEXANDER AT THE TOMB OF SARDANAPALUS.—PROCEEDINGS IN CILICIA. After this he sent Parmenio to the other Gates which separate the land of the Cilicians from that of the Assyrians, ...

ALEXANDER ADVANCES TO MYRIANDRUS.—DARIUS MARCHES AGAINST HIM. While he was still at Mallus, he was informed that Darius was encamped with all his forces at Sochi, a place in the l...

DARIUS AT ISSUS.—ALEXANDER’S SPEECH TO HIS ARMY. Darius crossed the mountain range by what are called the Amanic Gates, and advancing towards Issus, came without being noticed to ...

ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOSTILE ARMIES. Alexander then ordered his soldiers to take their dinner, and having sent a few of his horsemen and archers forward to the Gates to reconnoitre ...

ALEXANDER CHANGES THE DISPOSITION OF HIS FORCES. Meantime when Alexander perceived that nearly all the Persian cavalry had changed their ground and gone to his left towards the se...

BATTLE OF ISSUS. Having thus marshalled his men, he caused them to rest for some time, and then led them forward, as he thought the enemy’s approach was very slow. For Darius was ...

DEFEAT AND FLIGHT OF DARIUS. Hereupon the regiments on the right wing, perceiving that the Persians opposed to them had already been put to rout, wheeled round towards the Grecian...

KIND TREATMENT OF DARIUS’S FAMILY. The next day, Alexander, though suffering from a wound which he had received in the thigh from a sword, visited the wounded, and having collecte...

FLIGHT OF MACEDONIAN DESERTERS INTO EGYPT.—PROCEEDINGS OF AGIS, KING OF SPARTA.—ALEXANDER OCCUPIES PHOENICIA. Darius fled through the night with a few attendants; but in the dayti...

DARIUS’S LETTER, AND ALEXANDER’S REPLY. While Alexander was still in Marathus, ambassadors came bringing a letter from Darius, entreating him to give up to their king his mother, ...

ALEXANDER’S TREATMENT OF THE CAPTURED GREEK AMBASSADORS.—SUBMISSION OF BYBLUS AND SIDON. When Alexander ascertained that all the money which Darius had sent off to Damascus with C...

THE WORSHIP OF HERCULES IN TYRE.—THE TYRIANS REFUSE TO ADMIT ALEXANDER. The reason of this demand was, that in Tyre there existed a temple of Heracles,[298] the most ancient of al...

SPEECH OF ALEXANDER TO HIS OFFICERS. “Friends and allies, I see that an expedition to Egypt will not be safe for us, so long as the Persians retain the sovereignty of the sea; nor...

SIEGE OF TYRE.—CONSTRUCTION OF A MOLE FROM THE MAINLAND TO THE ISLAND. By this speech he easily persuaded his officers to make an attempt upon Tyre. Moreover he was encouraged by ...

THE SIEGE OF TYRE. But to counteract this the Tyrians adopted the following contrivance. They filled a vessel, which had been used for transporting horses, with dry twigs and othe...

TYRE BESIEGED BY SEA AS WELL AS LAND. About this time Gerostratus, King of Aradus, and Enylus, King of Byblus, ascertaining that their cities were in the possession of Alexander, ...

SIEGE OF TYRE. He had now collected many engineers both from Cyprus and the whole of Phoenicia, and many engines of war had been constructed,[323] some upon the mole, others upon ...

SIEGE OF TYRE.—NAVAL DEFEAT OF THE TYRIANS. It happened on that day that Alexander went away to his tent, but after a short time returned to his ships, not tarrying according to h...

SIEGE OF TYRE. The third day after this, having waited for a calm sea, after encouraging the leaders of the regiments for the action, he led the ships containing the military engi...

CAPTURE OF TYRE. To return to the fleet, the Phoenicians posted opposite the harbour looking towards Egypt, facing which they happened to be moored, forcing their way and bursting...

held a gymnastic contest in the temple, and celebrated a torch race. The military engine, also, with which the wall had been battered down, was brought into the temple and dedicate...

THE OFFERS OF DARIUS REJECTED.—BATIS, GOVERNOR OF GAZA, REFUSES TO SUBMIT. While Alexander was still occupied by the siege of Tyre, ambassadors came to him from Darius, announcing...

SIEGE OF GAZA. Gaza is about twenty stades from the sea;[335] the approach to it is sandy and over heavy soil, and the sea near the city everywhere shallow. The city of Gaza[336] ...

CAPTURE OF GAZA. When Alexander heard this, he kept himself for a time near the military engines, out of the reach of missiles. But when a vigorous sortie was made from the city, ...

CONQUEST OF EGYPT.—FOUNDATION OF ALEXANDRIA. Alexander now led an expedition into Egypt, whither he had set out at first (from Tyre); and marching from Gaza, on the seventh day he...

FOUNDATION OF ALEXANDRIA.—EVENTS IN THE AEGEAN. The following story is told, which seems to me not unworthy of belief[353]:—that Alexander himself wished to leave behind for the b...

ALEXANDER VISITS THE TEMPLE OF AMMON. After these transactions, Alexander was seized by an ardent desire to visit Ammon[360] in Libya, partly in order to consult the god, because ...

THE OASIS OF AMMON. The place where the temple of Ammon is located is entirely surrounded by a desert of far-stretching sand, which is destitute of water. The fertile spot in the ...

SETTLEMENT OF THE AFFAIRS OF EGYPT. At Memphis, many embassies from Greece reached him; and he sent away no one disappointed by the rejection of his suit. From Antipater also arri...

MARCH INTO SYRIA.—ALEXANDER’S KINDNESS TO HARPALUS AND HIS OTHER EARLY ADHERENTS. As soon as spring began to appear, he went from Memphis to Phoenicia, bridging the stream of the ...

PASSAGE OF THE EUPHRATES AND TIGRIS. Alexander arrived at Thapsacus in the month Hecatombaion,[381] in the archonship of Aristophanes at Athens; and he found that two bridges of b...

DESCRIPTION OF DARIUS’S ARMY AT ARBELA. Alexander therefore took the royal squadron of cavalry, and one squadron of the Companions, together with the Paeonian scouts, and marched ...

ALEXANDER’S TACTICS.—HIS SPEECH TO THE OFFICERS. When Alexander had received all this information from the Persian scouts who had been captured, he remained four days in the place...

REJECTION OF PARMENIO’S ADVICE. With these words and others like them he briefly exhorted his officers, and in return was exhorted by them to feel confidence in their valour. He t...

TACTICS OF THE OPPOSING GENERALS. Darius and his army remained drawn up during the night in the same order as that in which they had first arrayed themselves; because they had not...

ALEXANDER’S TACTICS. In this way had Alexander marshalled his army in front; but he also posted a second array, so that his phalanx might be a double one.[410] Directions had been...

THE BATTLE OF ARBELA. When the armies drew near each other, Darius and the men around him were observed; viz. the apple-bearing Persians, the Indians, the Albanians, the Carians w...

BATTLE OF ARBELA.—FLIGHT OF DARIUS. As soon as Darius began to set his whole phalanx in motion, Alexander ordered Aretes to attack those who were riding completely round his right...

DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS AND PURSUIT OF DARIUS. At this juncture, while the Macedonians were doubtful as to the result of the battle, Parmenio sent a messenger to Alexander in haste...

ESCAPE OF DARIUS INTO MEDIA.—MARCH OF ALEXANDER TO BABYLON AND SUSA. Immediately after the battle, Darius marched through the mountains of Armenia towards Media, accompanied in hi...

SUBJUGATION OF THE UXIANS. He now set out from Susa, and, crossing the river Pasitigris,[442] invaded the country of the Uxians. Some of these people who inhabit the plains were u...

DEFEAT OF ARIOBARZANES AND CAPTURE OF PERSEPOLIS. After this, Alexander despatched Parmenio with the baggage, the Thessalian cavalry, the Grecian allies, the mercenary auxiliaries...

DARIUS PURSUED INTO MEDIA AND PARTHIA. After bringing these matters to a successful issue, he advanced towards Media; for he ascertained that Darius was there. Now Darius had form...

MARCH THROUGH THE CASPIAN GATES. Then taking the Companion cavalry, the light cavalry used for skirmishing, the Greek mercenary cavalry, under the command of Erigyius, the Macedon...

DARIUS IS ASSASSINATED BY BESSUS. At this time Bagistanes, one of the Babylonian nobles, came to him from the camp of Darius, accompanied by Antibelus, one of the sons of Mazaeus....

REFLECTIONS ON THE FATE OF DARIUS. Alexander sent the body of Darius into Persis, with orders that it should be buried in the royal sepulchre, in the same way as the other Persian...

EXPEDITION INTO HYRCANIA. Alexander now took the soldiers who had been left behind in his pursuit and advanced into Hyrcania,[471] which is the country lying on the left of the ro...

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE MARDIANS. He then marched forward against the Mardians[477] taking with him the shield-bearing guards, the archers, the Agrianians, the brigades of Coenus a...

MARCH TO BACTRA.—BESSUS AIDED BY SATIBARZANES. Having settled these affairs, he marched to Zadracarta, the largest city of Hyrcania, where also was the seat of the Hyrcanian gover...

PHILOTAS AND PARMENIO PUT TO DEATH. Here also Alexander discovered the conspiracy of Philōtas, son of Parmenio. Ptolemy and Aristobūlus say that it had already been reported to hi...

TREATMENT OF AMYNTAS.—THE ARIASPIANS. They also say that about the same time Amyntas, son of Andromenes, was brought to trial, together with his brothers Polemo, Attalus, and Simm...

ALEXANDER CROSSES THE HINDU-KOOSH. After the transaction of this business, he advanced against Bactra and Bessus, reducing the Drangians and Gadrosians[493] to subjection on his m...

CONQUEST OF BACTRIA, AND PURSUIT OF BESSUS ACROSS THE OXUS. Alexander now arrived at Drapsaca, and having there given his army a rest, he marched to Aornus and Bactra, which are t...

CAPTURE OF BESSUS.—EXPLOITS IN SOGDIANA. Here Ptolemy learned that Spitamenes and Dataphernes were not firmly resolved about the betrayal of Bessus. He therefore left the infantry...

REBELLION OF THE SOGDIANIANS. A few days after this, envoys reached Alexander from the people called Abian Scythians, whom Homer commended in his poem, calling them the justest of...

CAPTURE OF FIVE CITIES IN TWO DAYS. When Alexander was informed of this, he gave instructions to the infantry, company by company, to prepare the ladders which were assigned to ea...

STORMING OF CYROPOLIS.—REVOLT OF THE SCYTHIANS. Having thus captured the five cities and reduced them to slavery in two days,[516] he went to Cyropolis, the largest city in the co...

DEFEAT OF THE SCYTHIANS BEYOND THE TANAIS. In twenty days he fortified the city which he was projecting, and settled in it some of the Grecian mercenaries and those of the neighbo...

SPITAMENES DESTROYS A MACEDONIAN DETACHMENT. Soon after this, arrived envoys from the king of the Scythians, who were sent to apologize for what had been done, and to state that i...

SPITAMENES DRIVEN INTO THE DESERT. But Aristobulus says the greater part of this army was destroyed by an ambuscade, the Scythians having hidden themselves in a park and fallen up...

TREATMENT OF BESSUS. When he had accomplished this, he came to Zariaspa; where he remained until the depth of winter arrived.[529] At this time came to him Phrataphernes the vicer...

THE MURDER OF CLITUS. Here also I shall give an account of the tragic fate of Clitus, son of Dropidas, and of Alexander’s mishap in regard to it. Though it occurred a little while...

ALEXANDER’S GRIEF FOR CLITUS. I think Clitus deserving of severe censure for his insolent behaviour to his king, while at the same time I pity Alexander for his mishap, because on...

DISPUTE BETWEEN CALLISTHENES AND ANAXARCHUS. But it is said that Callisthenes the Olynthian, who had studied philosophy under Aristotle, and was somewhat brusque in his manner, di...

CALLISTHENES OPPOSES THE PROPOSAL TO HONOUR ALEXANDER BY PROSTRATION. When Anaxarchus had uttered these remarks and others of a similar kind, those who were privy to the plan appl...

CALLISTHENES REFUSES TO PROSTRATE HIMSELF. By making these and other remarks of a similar kind, Callisthenes greatly annoyed Alexander, but spoke the exact sentiments of the Maced...

CONSPIRACY OF THE PAGES. It was a custom introduced by Philip, that the sons of those Macedonians who had enjoyed high office, should, as soon as they reached the age of puberty, ...

EXECUTION OF CALLISTHENES AND HERMOLAUS. Aristobulus says that the youths asserted it was Callisthenes who instigated them to make the daring attempt; and Ptolemy says the same.[5...

ALLIANCE WITH THE SCYTHIANS AND CHORASMIANS. Another embassy from the European Scythians came to Alexander with the envoys whom he had despatched to those people; for the king who...

SUBJUGATION OF SOGDIANA.—REVOLT OF SPITAMENES. He therefore crossed the river with a part of his army and entered Sogdiana, leaving Polysperchon, Attalus, Gorgias, and Meleager th...

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SPITAMENES. When this news was brought to Craterus, he made a forced march against the Massagetians, who, when they heard that he was marching against them, fl...

OXYARTES BESIEGED IN THE SOGDIAN ROCK. Meantime Coenus returned to Alexander at Nautaca, as also did Craterus, Phrataphernes the viceroy of the Parthians, and Stasanor the viceroy...

ALEXANDER CAPTURES THE ROCK AND MARRIES ROXANA. All the men who had gained practice in scaling rocks in sieges, banded themselves together to the number of three hundred, and prov...

MAGNANIMOUS TREATMENT OF THE FAMILY OF DARIUS. In relation to this subject there is a story current, that soon after the battle which was fought at Issus between Darius and Alexan...

CAPTURE OF THE ROCK OF CHORIENES. When Alexander had finished his operations among the Sogdianians, and was now in possession of the rock, he advanced into the land of the Paraeta...

ALEXANDER REACHES THE RIVER CABUL, AND RECEIVES THE HOMAGE OF TAXILES. After performing this exploit, Alexander himself went to Bactra; but sent Craterus with 600 of the cavalry C...

BATTLES WITH THE ASPASIANS. Alexander now took command of the shield-bearing guards, the Companion cavalry with the exception of those who had been joined with Hephaestion’s divis...

OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ASPASIANS. Alexander now took command of the shield-bearing guards, the archers, the Agrianians, the brigade of Coenus and Attalus, the royal body-guard of ...

DEFEAT OF THE ASPASIANS.—THE ASSACENIANS AND GURAEANS ATTACKED. When the enemy who were occupying the commanding heights perceived the Macedonians approaching, they descended into...

SIEGE OF MASSAGA. In the first place Alexander led his forces against Massaga,[607] the largest of the cities in that district; and when he was approaching the walls, the barbaria...

SIEGES OF MASSAGA AND ORA. Alexander now sent Alcetas with his own brigade to recover the men who had been severely wounded, and to recall to the camp those who were assailing the...

CAPTURE OF BAZIRA.—ADVANCE TO THE ROCK OF AORNUS. When the men in Bazira heard this news, despairing of their own affairs, they abandoned the city about the middle of the night, a...

SIEGE OF AORNUS. At this juncture some of the natives came to him, and surrendering themselves, offered to lead him to the part of the rock where it could be most easily assailed,...

CAPTURE OF AORNUS.—ARRIVAL AT THE INDUS. On the first day his army constructed the mound the length of a stade; and on the following day the slingers shooting at the Indians from ...

ALEXANDER AT NYSA. In this country, lying between the rivers Cophen and Indus, which was traversed by Alexander, the city of Nysa[621] is said to be situated. The report is, that ...

ALEXANDER AT NYSA. All this was very pleasant to Alexander to hear; for he wished that the legend about the wandering of Dionysus should be believed, as well as that Nysa owed its...

INCREDULITY OF ERATOSTHENES.—PASSAGE OF THE INDUS. Any one who receives these stories may believe or disbelieve them as he pleases. But I do not altogether agree with Eratosthenes...

DIGRESSION ABOUT INDIA. The following are statements about the river Indus which are quite unquestionable, and therefore let me record them. The Indus is the largest of all the ri...

MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS OF ASIA. But of the Indians I shall treat in a distinct work,[647] giving the most credible accounts which were compiled by those who accompanied Alexander in...

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INDIA. Whoever arranges the position of Asia in such a way that it is divided by the Taurus and the Caucasus from the west wind to the east wind, will find ...

METHOD OF BRIDGING RIVERS. How Alexander constructed his bridge over the river Indus, is explained neither by Aristobulus nor Ptolemy, authors whom I usually follow; nor am I able...

MARCH FROM THE INDUS TO THE HYDASPES. This has been the method of constructing bridges, practised by the Romans from olden times; but how Alexander laid a bridge over the river In...

PORUS OBSTRUCTS ALEXANDER’S PASSAGE. Alexander encamped on the bank of the Hydaspes, and Porus was seen with all his army and his large troop of elephants lining the opposite bank...

ALEXANDER AND PORUS AT THE HYDASPES. Alexander therefore spread a report that he would wait for that season of the year, if his passage was obstructed at the present time; but yet...

ALEXANDER’S STRATAGEM TO GET ACROSS. There was in the bank of the Hydaspes, a projecting headland, where the river makes a remarkable bend. It was densely covered by a grove,[676]...

PASSAGE OF THE HYDASPES. Such were the injunctions laid upon Craterus. Between the island and the great camp where Alexander had left this general, he posted Meleager, Attalus, an...

PASSAGE OF THE HYDASPES. Alexander himself embarked in a thirty-oared galley and went over, accompanied by Perdiccas, Lysimachus, the confidential body-guards, Seleucus, one of th...

THE BATTLE AT THE HYDASPES. Having thus arranged his army, he ordered the infantry to follow at a slow pace and in regular order, numbering as it did not much under 6,000 men; and...

ARRANGEMENTS OF PORUS. Ptolemy also says that Alexander in the first place sent the horse-archers against these, and led the cavalry himself, thinking that Porus was approaching w...

ALEXANDER’S TACTICS. Such was the arrangement which Porus made of his forces. As soon as Alexander observed that the Indians were drawn up in order of battle, he stopped his caval...

DEFEAT OF PORUS. Meantime the Indians had collected their cavalry from all parts, and were riding along, advancing out of their position to meet Alexander’s charge. Coenus also ap...

LOSSES OF THE COMBATANTS.—PORUS SURRENDERS. At the same time Craterus and the other officers of Alexander’s army who had been left behind on the bank of the Hydaspes crossed the r...

ALLIANCE WITH PORUS.—DEATH OF BUCEPHALAS. When Alexander heard that Meroës was bringing Porus to him, he rode in front of the line with a few of the Companions to meet Porus; and ...

CONQUEST OF THE GLAUSIANS.—EMBASSY FROM ABISARES.—PASSAGE OF THE ACESINES. When Alexander had paid all due honours to those who had been killed in the battle, he offered the custo...

ADVANCE BEYOND THE HYDRAOTES. After crossing the river,[701] he left Coenus with his own brigade there upon the bank, with instructions to superintend the passage of the part of t...

INVASION OF THE LAND OF THE CATHAEANS. Meantime he received information that the tribe called Cathaeans and some other tribes of the independent Indians were preparing for battle,...

ASSAULT UPON SANGALA. As the Indians did not run out from behind the waggons against the advancing cavalry, but mounted upon them and began to shoot from the top of them, Alexande...

CAPTURE OF SANGALA. Such were the orders he gave; and Ptolemy collected there as many waggons as he could from those which had been left behind in the first flight, and placed the...

THE ARMY REFUSES TO ADVANCE.—ALEXANDER’S SPEECH TO THE OFFICERS. It was reported that the country beyond the river Hyphasis was fertile, and that the men were good agriculturists,...

ALEXANDER’S SPEECH (_continued_). “I, for my part, think, that to a brave man there is no end to labours except the labours themselves, provided they lead to glorious achievements...

THE ANSWER OF COENUS. When Alexander had uttered these remarks, and others in the same strain, a long silence ensued, for the auditors neither had the audacity to speak in opposit...

ALEXANDER RESOLVES TO RETURN. When Coenus had concluded this speech, loud applause was given to his words by those who were present; and the fact that many even shed tears, made i...

ALEXANDER RECROSSES THE HYDRAOTES AND ACESINES. Then they shouted as a mixed multitude would shout when rejoicing; and most of them shed tears of joy. Some of them even approached...

PREPARATIONS FOR A VOYAGE DOWN THE INDUS. Alexander now resolved to sail down the Hydaspes to the Great Sea, after he had prepared on the banks of that river many thirty-oared gal...

VOYAGE DOWN THE HYDASPES. At this time Coenus, who was one of Alexander’s most faithful Companions, fell ill and died, and the king buried him with as much magnificence as circums...

VOYAGE DOWN THE HYDASPES (_continued_). When he had made all the necessary preparations the army began to embark at the approach of the dawn; while according to custom he offered ...

VOYAGE DOWN THE HYDASPES INTO THE ACESINES. Sailing thus, he stopped on the third day at the spot where he had instructed Hephaestion and Craterus to encamp on opposite banks of t...

VOYAGE DOWN THE ACESINES. When they came near the junction of the rivers, the pilots passed on the order that the men should row as hard as possible to get out of the narrows, so ...

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MALLIANS. He then took the shield-bearing guards, the bowmen, the Agrianians, Peithon’s brigade of men, who were called foot Companions, all the horse bowmen ...

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MALLIANS (_continued_). After dining and causing his men to rest until the first watch of the night, Alexander marched forward; and travelling a great distanc...

DEFEAT OF THE MALLIANS AT THE RIVER HYDRAOTES. Having remained there one day to give his army rest, he advanced on the morrow against the other Mallians. He found the cities aband...

STORMING OF THE MALLIAN STRONGHOLD. On the following day, dividing the army into two parts, he himself assaulted the wall at the head of one, and Perdiccas led on the other. Upon ...

ALEXANDER DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED. Meantime Peucestas and Abreas, the soldier entitled to double pay, and after them Leonnatus, being the only men who happened to have scaled the wall...

ALEXANDER WOUNDED. Hereupon some of them began to kill the Indians, all of whom they slew, sparing not even a woman or child. Others carried off the king, who was lying in a faint...

ANXIETY OF THE SOLDIERS ABOUT ALEXANDER. While Alexander was remaining in this place until his wound was cured, the first news which reached the camp from which he had set out to ...

JOY OF THE SOLDIERS AT ALEXANDER’S RECOVERY. When Alexander became acquainted with this, for fear some attempt at a revolution might be made in the army, he had himself conveyed, ...

VOYAGE DOWN THE HYDRAOTES AND ACESINES INTO THE INDUS. At this time arrived envoys from the Mallians who still survived, offering the submission of the nation; also from the Oxydr...

VOYAGE DOWN THE INDUS TO THE LAND OF MUSICANUS. There, at the confluence of the Acesines and Indus, he waited until Perdiccas with the army arrived, after having routed on his way...

CAMPAIGN AGAINST OXYCANUS AND SAMBUS. Then he took the archers, Agrianians, and cavalry sailing with him, and marched against the governor of that country, whose name was Oxycanus...

MUSICANUS EXECUTED.—CAPTURE OF PATALA. Meantime he was informed that Musicanus had revolted. He despatched the viceroy, Peithon, son of Agenor, with a sufficient army against him,...

VOYAGE DOWN THE INDUS. After instructing Hephaestion to fortify the citadel in Patala, he sent men into the adjacent country, which was waterless, to dig wells and to render the l...

Patala the water of the Indus is divided into two large rivers, both of which retain the name of Indus as far as the sea. Here Alexander constructed a harbour and dockyard; and whe...

VOYAGE DOWN THE INDUS INTO THE SEA. While their vessels were moored here, the phenomenon of the ebb and flow of the tide in the great sea occurred, so that their ships were left u...

EXPLORATION OF THE MOUTHS OF THE INDUS. Returning to Patala, he found that the citadel had been fortified and that Peithon had arrived with his army, having accomplished everythin...

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ORITIANS. The season of the year was then unfit for voyaging; for the periodical winds prevailed, which at that season do not blow there from the north, as wi...

MARCH THROUGH THE DESERT OF GADROSIA. Again he took half of the shield-bearing guards and Agrianians, the guard of cavalry and the horse-bowmen, and marched forward to the confine...

MARCH THROUGH THE DESERT OF GADROSIA. Thence Alexander marched through the land of the Gadrosians, by a difficult route, which was also destitute of all the necessaries of life; a...

MARCH THROUGH GADROSIA. He then advanced towards the capital of the Gadrosians, which was named Pura[796]; and he arrived there in sixty days after starting from Ora. Most of the ...

SUFFERINGS OF THE ARMY. The soldiers killed many of the beasts of burden of their own accord; for when provisions were lacking, they came together, and slaughtered most of the hor...

ALEXANDER’S MAGNANIMOUS CONDUCT. Here I have resolved not to pass over in silence the most noble deed perhaps ever performed by Alexander, which occurred either in this land or, a...

MARCH THROUGH CARMANIA.—PUNISHMENT OF VICEROYS. When he arrived at the capital of Gadrosia, he there gave his army a rest. He deposed Apollophanes from the viceroyalty,[803] becau...

ALEXANDER IN CARMANIA. Certain authors have said (though to me the statement seems incredible) that Alexander led his forces through Carmania lying extended with his Companions up...

ALEXANDER IN PERSIS.—TOMB OF CYRUS REPAIRED. He himself then marched to Pasargadae in Persis, with the lightest of his infantry, the Companion cavalry and a part of the archers; b...

PEUCESTAS APPOINTED VICEROY OF PERSIS. Thence he proceeded to the royal palace of the Persians, which he had on a former occasion himself burnt down, as I have previously related,...

ALEXANDER’S PLANS.—THE INDIAN PHILOSOPHERS. When Alexander arrived at Pasargadae and Persepolis,[824] he was seized with an ardent desire to sail down the Euphrates and Tigres[825...

ALEXANDER’S DEALINGS WITH THE INDIAN SAGES. On this occasion Alexander commended both the words and the men who spoke them; but nevertheless he did just the opposite to that which...

SELF-SACRIFICE OF THE INDIAN CALANUS. This I have recorded, because in a history of Alexander it is necessary also to speak of Calanus; for when he was in the country of Persis hi...

MARRIAGES BETWEEN MACEDONIANS AND PERSIANS. At this time Alexander sent Atropates away to his own viceroyalty,[841] after advancing to Susa; where he arrested Abulites and his son...

THE SOLDIERS REWARDED. He now thought it a favourable opportunity to liquidate the debts of all the soldiers who had incurred them[849]; and for this purpose he ordered that a reg...

AN ARMY OF ASIATICS TRAINED UNDER THE MACEDONIAN DISCIPLINE. The viceroys from the newly-built cities and the rest of the territory subdued in war came to him, bringing with them ...

NAVIGATION OF THE TIGRES. Alexander now ordered Hephaestion to lead the main body of the infantry as far as the Persian Sea, while he himself, his fleet having sailed up into the ...

THE MACEDONIANS OFFENDED AT ALEXANDER. When he arrived at Opis, he collected the Macedonians and announced that he intended to discharge from the army those who were useless for m...

ALEXANDER’S SPEECH. “The speech which I am about to deliver will not be for the purpose of checking your start homeward, for, so far as I am concerned, you may depart wherever you...

ALEXANDER’S SPEECH (_continued_). “But some one may say, that while you endured toil and fatigue, I have acquired these things as your leader without myself sharing the toil and f...

RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ALEXANDER AND HIS ARMY. Having thus spoken, he leaped down quickly from the platform, and entered the palace, where he paid no attention to the decoration o...

TEN THOUSAND MACEDONIANS SENT HOME WITH CRATERUS.—DISPUTES BETWEEN ANTIPATER AND OLYMPIAS. Then those of the Macedonians who were unfit for service on account of age or any other ...

THE NISAEAN PLAIN.—THE AMAZONS. It is said that Hephaestion much against his will yielded to this argument and was reconciled to Eumenes, who on his part wished to settle the disp...

DEATH OF HEPHAESTION. In Ecbatana Alexander offered sacrifice according to his custom, for good fortune; and he celebrated a gymnastic and musical contest. He also held drinking p...

SUBJUGATION OF THE COSSAEANS.—EMBASSIES FROM DISTANT NATIONS. The mourning was prolonged for many days; and as he was now beginning to recall himself from it, under such circumsta...

EXPLORATION OF THE CASPIAN.—THE CHALDAEAN SOOTHSAYERS. After this, Alexander sent Heraclides, son of Argaeus, into Hyrcania in command of a company of shipwrights, with orders to ...

THE ADVICE OF THE CHALDEES REJECTED. But he had a suspicion that the Chaldaeans were trying to prevent his entrance into Babylon at that time with reference rather to their own ad...

PREDICTIONS OF ALEXANDER’S DEATH. Moreover Aristobulus has recorded the following story. Apollodorus the Amphipolitan, one of Alexander’s Companions, was general of the army which...

EMBASSIES FROM GREECE.—FLEET PREPARED FOR INVADING ARABIA. As he was entering Babylon, he was met by embassies from the Greeks; but for what purpose each embassy was sent has not ...

DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA.—VOYAGE OF NEARCHUS. The common report is, that he heard that the Arabs venerated only two gods, Uranus and Dionysus[938]; the former because he is visible a...

DESCRIPTION OF THE EUPHRATES AND THE PALLACOPAS. While the triremes were being built for him, and the harbour near Babylon was being excavated, Alexander sailed from Babylon down ...

AN OMEN OF ALEXANDER’S APPROACHING DEATH. Having thus proved the falsity of the prophecy of the Chaldaeans, by not having experienced any unpleasant fortune in Babylon,[950] as th...

THE ARMY RECRUITED FROM THE PERSIANS.—HEPHAESTION’S MEMORY HONOURED. When he returned to Babylon he found that Peucestas had arrived from Persis, bringing with him 20,000 Persians...

ANOTHER OMEN OF ALEXANDER’S DEATH. But Alexander’s own end was now near. Aristobulus says that the following occurrence was a prognostication of what was about to happen. He was d...

ALEXANDER SEIZED WITH FEVER. The Royal Diary gives the following account,[966] to the effect that he revelled and drank at the dwelling of Medius; then rose up, took a bath, and s...

ALEXANDER’S DEATH. Such is the account given in the Royal Diary. In addition to this, it states that the soldiers were very desirous of seeing him; some, in order to see him once ...

RUMOUR THAT ALEXANDER WAS POISONED. I am aware that many other particulars have been related by historians concerning Alexander’s death, and especially that poison was sent for hi...

CHARACTER OF ALEXANDER. Alexander died in the hundred and fourteenth Olympiad, in the archonship of Hegesias at Athens.[976] According to the statement of Aristobulus, he lived th...

APOLOGY FOR ALEXANDER’S ERRORS. That Alexander should have committed errors in his conduct from quickness of temper or from wrath,[978] and that he should have been induced to com...

EULOGY OF ALEXANDER. Whoever therefore reproaches Alexander as a bad man, let him do so; but let him first not only bring before his mind all his actions deserving reproach, but a...