200 largest elephant Diodorus, 17.88.4. Goukowsky, P., “Le roi Poros et son éléphant,” BCH 96
(1972), pp. 473–502.
200 seven feet tall himself Arrian, 5.19.1; Diodorus, 17.88.4. Plutarch, 60.6, gives Porus’ height as
four cubits and a span, or about six feet and three inches.
200 without riders Arrian, 5.18.4–5, translation adapted from Sélincourt (1971), p. 280.
200 “What do you” Arrian, 5.19.2.
200 “Treat me, O Alexander” Arrian, 5.19.2.
200 enlarged his realm Arrian, 5.19.3.
200 exhaustion and age Arrian, 5.19.4. For the foundations, see Fraser, P., Cities of Alexander the
Great (Oxford, 1996), pp. 161–162. Neither site has been excavated.
201 “In former days” Arrian, 5.19.5–6, translation from Sélincourt (1971), pp. 282–283. On the
founding of the city named after Bucephalas, see Miller, M., “The ‘Porus’ Decadrachm and the
Founding of Bucephala,” AncW 25 (1994), pp. 109–120.
CHAPTER 20 The Mutiny at the Hyphasis River
202 for the victory Arrian, 5.20.1.
202 many of their friends For the point, see Lloyd, A., “Philip II and Alexander the Great: The
Moulding of Macedon’s Army,” in Battle in Antiquity, ed. A. Lloyd (London, 1996), pp. 173–174.
202 riding an elephant A so-called decadrachma. See Holt, F., Alexander the Great and the
Mystery of the Elephant Medallions (Berkeley, 2003).
202 (in what is now Kashmir) Arrian, 5.20.1–2; Hammond (1997), p. 169.
203 alliance with Alexander Arrian, 5.19.2–4.
203 sent home Arrian, 5.20.4.
203 conquest of India Diodorus, 17.89.4–5.
203 slung from trees Diodorus, 17.90.7.
203 variety of monkeys Diodorus, 17.90.1.
203 easier to catch Diodorus, 17.90.1–3.
204 forty elephants Arrian, 5.20.5.
204 an unpleasant sight Arrian, 5.20.6.
204 named Porus Arrian, 5.20.6.
204 with his army Bosworth (1988), p. 131.
204 from the monsoons Bosworth (1988), p. 131.
204 were wrecked Arrian, 5.20.8–9.
204 to Alexander Arrian, 5.21.1–2.
204 thunder and lightning Diodorus, 17.94.2–3.
205 search for provisions Arrian, 5.21.4.
205 and Amritsar Arrian, 5.21.5–22.2; Bosworth (1988), p. 132.
205 triple defensive ring Arrian, 5.22.4.
205 outer ring of wagons Arrian, 5.23.1–2.
205 denser formation Arrian, 5.23.2.
205 under his command Arrian, 5.24.1–3.
205 personal bodyguards Arrian, 5.24.4–5.
205 Sangala’s capture Arrian, 5.24.6–7.
205 viewed as rebels Arrian, 5.24.7.
205 in those cities Arrian, 5.24.8.
205 the Indians there A few miles within the union of modern India; see Narain, A., “Alexander and
India,” GaR 12 (1965), pp. 155–165.
205 to the war Arrian, 5.24.8.
206 to the west According to the measurement of Baeton, one of Alexander’s land-surveyors. See
Jacoby (1962), 119F 2a, p. 623.
206 of the river Diodorus, 17.93.2.
206 to the Ganges The actual distance was c. 205 miles; see Bosworth (1988), p. 133.
206 fighting elephants Plutarch, 62.2.
206 barber’s son Diodorus, 17.93.3.
206 whole earth Diodorus, 17.93.4.
206 without respite Diodorus, 17.94.1–2.
207 military records Diodorus, 17.94.3–4.
207 should lead them Arrian, 5.25.2. For the mutiny, see Holt, F., “The Hyphasis ‘Mutiny’: A
Source Study,” AncW 5 (1982), pp. 33–59.
207 the whole world Arrian, 5.25.3–26.2.
207 when to stop Arrian, 5.27.2–9.
207 “I shall have others” Arrian, 5.28.2, translation adapted from Sélincourt (1971), p. 298.
208 presumably deafening Arrian, 5.28.4.
208 fortuitously proved Arrian, 5.28.4.
208 Alexander ever suffered Arrian, 5.29.1.
208 low birth Plutarch, 62.4.
209 “To Father Ammon” Philostratus, Life of Apollonius, 2.43.
209 cavalry exercises Arrian, 5.29.1–2.
209 huge stature Diodorus, 17.95.1–2.
209 abandoning the area Arrian, 5.29.4–5.
209 by an illness Arrian, 6.2.1; and Curtius, 9.3.20, who also reports that Coenus died of a disease,
but mistakenly claims that Coenus died at the Acesines (on the way back to the Hydaspes). But
Curtius’ mistake about where Coenus died in no way alters the fact that he died of a disease.
209 in Coenus’ death Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), p. 20, where Alexander’s
involvement is only possibly intimated, without pushing the clear evidence; see also Worthington, I.,
“How ‘Great’ Was Alexander?” Ancient History Bulletin 13, no. 2 (1999), pp. 39–55; and again in
Worthington, I., “Alexander and ‘the Interests of Historical Accuracy’: A Reply,” Ancient History
Bulletin 13, no. 4 (1999), pp. 136–140.
210 evidence for that For a refutation of the implication that Alexander somehow was involved in
the death of Coenus, see Holt, F., “The Hyphasis ‘Mutiny’: A Source Study,” AncW 5 (1982), pp. 49–
55.
210 “it was merely” Curtius, 9.3.20, translation from Yardley (1984), p. 219.
210 at least some gods Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), p. 20.
CHAPTER 21 The Meed of Great Deeds
213 120,000 men Arrian, Indike 19.5.
213 front-line infantrymen Hammond (1997), p. 171.
213 short of 2,000 Arrian, 6.1.1, 6.2.4. Nearchus, Alexander’s chief naval commander, alternatively
gives a figure of 1,800, including warships, merchantmen, and horse transports, Arrian, Indike, 19.7.
213 ever assembled Ambrose, S., D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II
(New York, 1994), pp. 24–25.
213 the expedition Arrian, Indike, 18.1.
213 nautical expertise Arrian, Indike, 18.2.
214 and friends Arrian, Indike, 18.3–9.
214 from Crete Arrian, Indike, 18.10.
214 royal flagship Arrian, Indike, 18.9.
214 set out Arrian, Indike, 18.12.
214 Indus, too Arrian, 6.3.1.
214 he usually honored Arrian, 6.3.2.
214 Companion cavalry Arrian, 6.2.2.
214 200 elephants Arrian, 6.2.2.
214 Alexander, and Hephaestion Arrian, 6.2.2–3.
214 and Acesines Arrian, 6.4.4; Curtius, 9.4.1.
214 with their troops Arrian, 6.5.5.
215 human history Narain, A., “Alexander and India,” GaR 12 (1965), pp. 155–165.
215 of the river Arrian, 6.5.6.
215 intercept stragglers Arrian, 6.5.6; and thus eight days after Alexander himself set out.
215 against the Mallians Arrian, 6.6.1.
215 waged thus far Rightly emphasized by Narain, A., “Alexander and India,” GaR 12 (1965), pp.
155–165.
215 stormed their towns Arrian, 6.6.2–5.
215 in local marshes Arrian, 6.6.6.
215 many of them Arrian, 6.7.1–2.
215 were enslaved Arrian, 6.7.3.
215 ascetic religious sect Hammond (1997), p. 172.
215 successfully undermined Arrian, 6.7.5–6.
215 survivors captured alive Arrian, 6.7.6.
216 cities nearby Arrian, 6.8.4–8.
216 had been captured Arrian, 6.9.1–2.
216 of the city Arrian, 6.9.2.
216 his shield Arrian, 6.9.3.
216 another ladder Arrian, 6.9.3.
216 virtually alone Arrian, 6.9.4.
217 into the citadel itself A
rrian, 6.9.5.
217 on his right Diodorus, 17.99.2.
217 commander of the Indians Arrian, 6.9.6; Diodorus, 17.99.2.
217 well-aimed stones Arrian, 6.9.6.
217 missile at Alexander Arrian, 6.9.6.
217 in his defense Arrian, 6.10.1.
217 his loss of blood Arrian, 6.10.2, translation adapted from Sélincourt (1971), p. 314.
217 protecting Alexander Arrian, 6.10.3–4.
218 shield over Alexander Arrian, 6.10.4.
218 No one was spared Arrian, 6.11.1.
218 its barbed head Curtius, 9.5.25–28.
218 pulled out the arrow Arrian, 6.11.1.
218 three inches thick Plutarch, On the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander, 341c.
218 were removed Arrian, 6.12.2.
218 and officers Arrian, 6.12.3.
219 at the time Arrian, 6.13.3.
219 out of dangers Arrian, 6.13.4.
219 a great deed Arrian, 6.13.5; the iambic lines apparently come from a lost tragedy of Aeschylus,
fragment 282.
220 and the Mallians Arrian, 6.14.1–3.
220 with the Indus Arrian, 6.14.4–5.
220 juncture of the rivers Arrian, 6.15.2.
220 conduit for trade Arrian, 6.15.2; Hammond (1997), p. 173.
220 his office ineffectively Arrian, 6.15.3.
221 damaged boats Arrian, 6.15.4.
221 region of India Arrian, 6.15.4.
221 realm in India Arrian, 6.15.5.
221 installed in it Arrian, 6.15.6–7; Bosworth (1988), p. 137.
221 a certain Oxycanus Arrian, 6.16.2.
221 Indian hill tribes Arrian, 6.16.3.
221 his enemy Musicanus Arrian, 6.16.4.
221 enslaved the inhabitants Diodorus, 17.102.6.
221 encouraging the revolt Diodorus, 17.102.7; Arrian, 6.16.5.
221 in this campaign Diodorus, 17.102.6–7; Curtius, 9.8.15, citing Cleitarchus.
221 the revolt executed Arrian, 6.17.2; Curtius, 9.8.16.
221 venom of snakes Diodorus, 17.103.4.
222 and gangrene Diodorus, 17.103.5.
222 in its mouth Diodorus, 17.103.7.
222 spared them Diodorus, 17.103.8.
222 “For what reason” Plutarch, 65.3.
222 Indian word Cale Plutarch, 65.3.
222 on the borders Plutarch, 65.3.
CHAPTER 22 Fulfillment of an Oracle
223 over to Alexander Arrian, 6.17.2.
223 Alexander at Pattala Arrian, 6.17.2–4; Bosworth (1988), p. 138.
224 virtually deserted Arrian, 6.17.5.
224 did return Arrian, 6.17.6.
224 were also built Arrian, 6.18.1–2.
224 westerly stream Arrian, 6.18.2–3.
224 build new ones Arrian, 6.18.4.
224 by the receding tide Arrian, 6.18.5–19.2.
224 island of Cilluta Arrian, 6.19.3.
225 so honor Arrian, 6.19.3–4.
225 oracle of Ammon Arrian, 6.19.4.
225 under Nearchus’ command Arrian, 6.19.5.
225 (but slower) Arrian, 6.20.4.
225 fleet with water Arrian, 6.20.4, 6.19.5.
226 the coastal voyage Arrian, 6.20.5.
226 “peace and with it” Hammond (1997), p. 175.
226 was a failure For the claim, see Bosworth, A., “The Indian Satrapies Under Alexander the
Great,” Antichthon 17 (1983), pp. 37–46.
227 to the Indian Ocean As Bosworth, A., “The Indian Satrapies Under Alexander the Great,”
Antichthon 17 (1983), pp. 37–46, himself admits.
227 Russian campaign Brunt, P., “The Aims of Alexander,” GaR 12 (1965), pp. 205–215.
CHAPTER 23 Death in the Desert
228 August 325 Arrian, 6.21.3.
228 rest of the army Arrian, 6.21.3.
228 (wives, concubines, children) Bosworth (1988), p. 142.
228 early November Arrian 6.21.1; Bosworth (1988), p. 140.
228 branch of the river Arrian, Indike, 21.1ff.
228 “by the foothills” Bosworth (1988), p. 142.
229 called the Oreitai Arrian, 6.21.3.
229 many surrendered Arrian, 6.21.5.
229 territory of the Gedrosians Arrian, 6.22.3.
229 Cyrus and Semiramis Arrian, 6.24.1–3.
231 market or anchorage Arrian, 6.23.1.
231 without a plan Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), pp. 20–21.
231 inhospitable coast Arrian, 6.23.2, who says that the coastline was entirely desert.
231 the Coastal Range See Stein, A., “On Alexander’s Route into Gedrosia: An Archaeological
Tour in Las Bela,” Geographical Journal 102 (1943), pp. 193–227; and Bosworth (1988), p. 144.
231 no water Arrian, 6.23.1.
231 down to the coast Arrian, 6.23.1.
231 not exactly sweet Arrian, 6.23.2–3.
232 by the receding tide Arrian, Indike, 29.9.
232 animal skins Diodorus, 17.105.3–5.
232 (perhaps the oasis of Turbat in southwestern Pakistan) Bosworth (1988), p. 144.
232 into the provisions Arrian, 6.23.4–5.
232 the baggage animals Arrian, 6.24.4–26.5.
232 in sandy graves Arrian, 6.25.3.
232 had poured away Arrian, 6.26.1–3. An incident that some writers claimed took place earlier in
Parapamisadae, but suits the context of Gedrosia far better.
233 the royal tent Arrian, 6.25.4–6.
233 sixty days Arrian, 6.24.1, 27.1.
233 satrap of Drangiana Diodorus, 17.105.6–7; Curtius, 9.10.17.
233 and elsewhere Arrian, 6.27.6.
233 such a disaster Curtius, 9.10.17.
233 “to expiate its contumacy” Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), p. 21.
233 “his prior knowledge” Bosworth (1988), p. 146.
233 an anchorage Arrian, 6.23.1.
233 the baggage train Arrian, 6.23.4.
233 they had done Arrian, 6.23.4–5.
234 were better Arrian, 6.23.2.
234 at face value Plutarch, 66.2. We know that at least 18,000 Macedonians made it back to Opis;
see Bosworth (1988), p. 145.
234 Alexander’s ambition It is worth noting that we have no idea how many of those who
accompanied Alexander through Gedrosia died from the heat or lack of food or water, as opposed to
the flood.
CHAPTER 24 The Reign of Terror?
235 replaced him with Thoas Arrian, 6.27.1.
235 rebellious Oreitae Arrian, Indike, 23.5.
235 and the Gedrosians Arrian, 6.27.1.
235 Philip’s satrapy Arrian, 6.27.2.
236 the reports about him Curtius, 9.10.21.
236 after he revolted Arrian, 6.27.3.
236 also arrived Curtius, 9.10.22.
236 by the Carmanians Arrian, 6.28.1; Curtius, 9.10.25.
236 honor of Dionysos Arrian, 6.28.2.
236 in decorated wagons Curtius, 9.10.26.
236 “seven days on” Curtius, 9.10.27, translation from Yardley (1984), p. 237.
236 did not happen Arrian, 6.28.1–2.
236 governors and officers For the events interpreted along with the flight of Harpalus, see Badian,
E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), pp. 16–43.
236 governor of Carmania Curtius, 9.10.21.
236 was executed Curtius, 9.10.29.
236 “luxurious living” Curtius, 9.10.29, translation from Yardley (1984), p. 237.
236 perhaps Agathon Curtius, 10.1.1.
237 in Ecbatana Arrian, 6.27.3.
237 of the province Arrian, 6.27.4.
237 as a concubine Curtius, 10.1.3–5.
237 surrendered to Alexander Arrian, 6.27.4–5.
237 commanders’ orders Curtius, 10.1.8.
237 he was executed Arrian, 6.27.5.
237 called Ordanes Arrian, 6.27.3.
237 put to death Curtius, 10.1.9.
; 238 mercenaries at once Diodorus, 17.106.3; Bosworth (1988), p. 148.
238 from Alexander Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), pp. 26–28.
238 in Alexander’s army Bosworth (1988), p. 148.
238 acceptable level Bosworth (1988), p. 148.
238 early in 324 Arrian, 7.23.1, 24.1.
238 hiring of mercenaries Bosworth (1988), p. 149.
239 and fled Diodorus, 17.106.2.
239 and 6,000 mercenaries Diodorus, 17.108.4–6.
239 and expensive tastes Badian, E., “Harpalus,” JHS 81 (1961), pp. 16–43.
239 from the Red Sea Diodorus, 17.108.4.
239 of the Attic type Diodorus, 17.108.5.
239 a rainy day Diodorus, 17.108.6.
239 (where he perhaps hoped to incite a revolt) Athenaeus, 13.594.e.
240 in his wake Diodorus, 17.108.7–8. After Harpalus’ death, there was an inquiry into funds that
Harpalus had left in Athens, and Demosthenes and other Athenian politicians were convicted of
accepting bribes. Despite his consistent opposition to Macedon and Alexander, the Athenian orator
Demosthenes wisely had had Harpalus arrested when he entered Athens in mid-June of 324 B.C.E., and
an embassy was sent to Alexander to ask him what to do with his treasurer. Before the Athenians
received a reply, Harpalus fortuitously escaped from Athens—less half of the 700 talents he had
brought with him. Demosthenes was later accused of helping Harpalus to flee. For the events, see
Worthington, I., “The Harpalus Affair and the Greek Response to the Macedonian Hegemony,” in
Ventures into Greek History: Essays in Honour of N.G.L. Hammond, ed. I. Worthington (Oxford,
1994), pp. 307–330.
CHAPTER 25 Nabarzanes’ Gift
241 capital of Carmania Diodorus, 17.106.4; Bosworth (1988), p. 150.
241 athletic competitions Arrian, 6.28.3.
241 satrap of Persia Arrian, 6.28.3–4.
241 won the prize Plutarch, 67.4.
241 kind of gift Curtius, 6.5.23.
241 murder of Darius Curtius, 6.5.23.
241 and kissed him Plutarch, 67.4.
242 even took place Tarn, W., Alexander the Great, volume 2 (Cambridge, 1948), pp. 320–323.
242 question its historicity For the episode, see Badian, E., “The Eunuch Bagoas: A Study in
Method,” CQ 8 (1958), pp. 144–157.
242 an older man ( erastes ) Plutarch, 67.4.
242 and Hellenistic periods For an excellent introduction to the topics of sexual preference and
same-gender attractions in ancient Greece and Rome, see Hubbard, T., “Introduction,” in
Homosexuality in Greece and Rome: A Sourcebook of Basic Documents (Berkeley, 2003), pp. 1–20.
Alexander Page 44