CHAPTER I.

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 arrived at Pelusium[341] in Egypt. His fleet had also set sail

from Phoenicia to Egypt; and he found the ships already moored at

Pelusium.[342] When Mazaces the Persian, whom Darius had appointed

viceroy of Egypt,[343] ascertained how the battle at Issus had

resulted, that Darius had fled in disgraceful flight, and that

Phoenicia, Syria, and most of Arabia were already in Alexander’s

possession, as he had no Persian force with which he could offer

resistance, he admitted Alexander into the cities and the country in a

friendly way.[344] Alexander introduced a garrison into Pelusium, and

ordering the men in the ships to sail up the river as far as the city

of Memphis,[345] he went in person towards Heliopolis,[346] having the

river Nile[347] on his right. He reached that city through the desert,

after getting possession of all the places on the march through the

voluntary surrender of the inhabitants. Thence he crossed the stream

and came to Memphis; where he offered sacrifice to Apis[348] and the

other gods, and celebrated a gymnastic and musical contest, the most

distinguished artists in these matters coming to him from Greece.

From Memphis he sailed down the river towards the sea, embarking the

shield-bearing guards, the archers, the Agrianians, and of the cavalry

the royal squadron of the Companions. Coming to Canobus,[349] he sailed

round the Marian lake,[350] and disembarked where now is situated the

city of Alexandria, which takes its name from him. The position seemed

to him a very fine one in which to found a city, and he foresaw that

it would become a prosperous one.[351] Therefore he was seized by an

ardent desire to undertake the enterprise, and himself marked out the

boundaries of the city, pointing out the place where the agora was to

be constructed, where the temples were to be built, stating how many

there were to be, and to what Grecian gods they were to be dedicated,

and specially marking a spot for a temple to the Egyptian Isis.[352]

He also pointed out where the wall was to be carried round it. In

regard to these matters he offered sacrifice, and the victims appeared

favourable.