Patron, commander of Darius’ Greek troops, urges him to return to Mesopotamia and encounter the Macedonians there. The courtiers question Patron’s motive and advise Darius to kill the Greeks as traitors. The king refuses, and boasts greatly of his strength. He sends his money and valuables to Damascus, but met the Macedonians at Issus (viii).
A description of the arrangement of each army; of that of Darius the Greeks formed the main strength; of Alexander’s the phalanx and the cavalry. The Persian forces covered whatever room there was in the narrow space, but their army, made up of many nations, was confused and ineffective (ix).
Alexander, after warning his men not to enter battle at full speed, encouraged them by exhortations adapted to the spirit of each group, reminding the Macedonians of their native valour and the spoils of the Orient, the Greeks of the outrages of Xerxes, the Illyrians and Thracians of the vast and easily won booty (x).
A description of the battle and the rout of the Persians. The contest centres round the chariot of Darius, until his horses are maddened with terror and the king, fearing to be taken alive by the enemy, leaps down, is put upon a horse, and flees (xi).
Alexander, returning to camp after pursuing the enemy, sends Leonnatus to console the mother and the wife of Darius. On the following day, after burying his dead, he visits them in person and gives a noble example of compassion and continence (xii).
At Damascus the treacherous governor delivers to Parmenion the treasures of Darius and many high-born captives, whom the governor had cruelly treated. He is killed by one of his accomplices and his head taken to Darius.
BOOK III
I. MEANWHILE Alexander, after sending Cleander with money to hire soldiers from the Peloponnesus and setting in order the affairs of Lycia and Pamphylia, moved his army to the city of Celaenae.
[2] Through the middle of the city at that time flowed the Marsyas, a river famed in the storied songs of the [3] Greeks. Its source, gushing forth from the summit of a mountain, falls with a great noise of its waters upon a rock below; from there, divided into several branches, it irrigates the adjacent plains, clear and carrying only its own waters. Therefore its colour, like that of a calm sea, has given opportunity for a fancy of the poets; for it is said that nymphs, kept there by love of the river, dwell upon that — rock. Now, so long as it flows within the city the river retains its own name, but when it rolls forth beyond the ramparts and drives on its waters with greater force and mass, they call it the Lycus, “Wolf.”
The city, indeed, when Alexander entered it, had been abandoned by its inhabitants, but having determined to attack the citadel, in which they had taken refuge,” he first sent a herald, to threaten that if they did not surrender it, they would suffer the utmost penalties. They led the herald to a tower raised high both by its natural situation and by the hand of man, telling them to observe how lofty it was and to report to Alexander that he and the inhabitants did not set the same value on their fortifications: that they knew themselves to be impregnable and were ready to the last to die loyally. But when they saw that the citadel was beset on every side, and that all their supplies were becoming scantier day by day, they bargained for a truce of sixty days, agreeing that if Darius did not send them help within that time, they would surrender the city; and when no aid came to them from that quarter, on the stipulated day they gave themselves up to the king.
Then came envoys of the Athenians, asking that their citizens who had been taken prisoner at the river Granicus should be returned to them. Alexander replied that he would give orders that not only these but also the rest of the Greeks should be restored to their homes, as soon as the Persian war was ended.
Then, intent upon Darius, who, as he had learned, had not yet crossed the Euphrates, he assembled all his troops from every side, intending to meet the crisis of so great a war with all his strength.
Phrygia was the country through which the army was being led; abounding in villages rather than in cities, it was at that time the seat of the once famous palace of Midas. Gordium is the city’s name; the river Sangarius flows beside it, and it is equally distant from the Pontic and the Cilician sea. We have been informed that between these two seas is the narrowest part of Asia, since they compress the lands into a narrow passageway. And because Asia is joined to the mainland, but is in great part surrounded by waters, it presents the appearance of an island, and were it not for this slight intervening space, what now separates the seas would unite them.
Alexander, after reducing the city into his power, entered the temple of Jupiter. There he saw the wagon in which it was known that Gordius, the father of Midas rode, and it was in no way more elegant than ordinary ones in everyday use. The noteworthy feature was the yoke, which was made fast by a great number of thongs, closely tangled with one another and concealing their interlacings. Thereupon, since the natives declared that the oracle had predicted that whoever should loose the intricate fastening would rule over Asia, the desire entered Alexander’s mind of fulfilling that prophecy. Around the king stood a throng of Phrygians and Macedonians, the former on tiptoe of expectation, the latter in anxiety because of the king’s rash self-confidence; and in fact the series of thongs was so closely bound together that where a hidden interlacing began or where it ended could be made out neither by the eye nor by calculation; and the king’s attempt to undo the tangle made the throng anxious lest a failure should be regarded as an omen. After having struggled for a long time without effect against the hidden knots: “It makes no difference,” said he, “how they are loosed,” and cutting through all the thongs with his sword, he either tricked the oracle or fulfilled it.
Then, since he had resolved to overtake Darius wherever he might be, in order to leave everything behind him safe he gave Amphoterus command of the fleet at the shore of the Hellespont and Hegelochus of the land-forces, in order that these officers might free Lesbos, Chios and Cos from the enemies’ garrisons. To them 500 talents were given for the expenses of the war, and to Antipater and those who were defending the Greek cities 600 talents were sent, and the allies were ordered, as was provided by their treaty, to furnish ships to guard the Hellespont. For he had not yet learned of the death of Memnon, against whom he had directed all his attention, knowing well enough that all would be easy if that general made no move.
And now he had arrived at the city of Ancyra, from which, after having numbered his forces, he entered Paphlagonia; next to this were the Heneti, from whom some believe that the Veneti derive their origin. All this region yielded to Alexander, and gave hostages and obtained freedom from the obligation of paying tribute, which they had not rendered even to the Persians. Calas was made governor of that region, and Alexander himself, taking the troops that had lately arrived from Macedonia, made for Cappadocia.
II. But Darius, when the death of Memnon was announced, being not less anxious than was natural, set aside all other hope, and decided to fight a decisive battle in person; for he condemned everything that had been done through his generals, believing that many of them had been lacking in care, and all in good fortune. Accordingly, having encamped before Babylon, he made a display of all his forces, in order that they might enter upon the war with the greater confidence, and having built a circular enclosure, capable of containing a throng of 10,000 armed men, he began to number them as Xerxes had done. From sunrise to nightfall the troops entered the enclosure, as they had been told off. Then, when sent out, they filled the plains of Mesopotamia, an all but innumerable mass of cavalry and foot, which gave the appearance of being greater than it actually was. Of Persians there were 100,000, among them 30,000 horsemen.
The Medes had 10,000 horse and 50,000 foot. Of the Barcani there were 2000 horse, armed with double-edged axes and light shields closely resembling Spanish bucklers; they were followed by 10,000 infantry, armed in the same manner as the horsemen.
The Armenians had sent 40,000 foot-soldiers, besides 7000 cavalry. The Hyrcani had mustered 6000 as excellent horsemen as those nat
ions could furnish, as well as 1000 Tapurian cavalry. The Derbices had armed 40,000 foot-soldiers; most of these carried spears tipped with bronze or iron, but some had hardened the wooden shaft by fire. These also were accompanied by 2000 horsemen from the same nation. From the Caspian Sea had come an infantry army of 8000, and 200 horsemen. With these were other less known nations; they had mustered 2000 foot and twice that number of horsemen. To these forces were added 30,000 Greek mercenaries, excellent young soldiers. However, his haste prevented the summoning of the Bactriani, the Sogdiani, the Indi, and other dwellers near the Red Sea, whose names were unknown even to Darius himself. But there was nothing which he lacked less than numbers of soldiers.
Extravagantly happy at the appearance of the throng then assembled, while his courtiers puffed up his hope with their usual empty flattery, turning to Charidemus, an Athenian skilled in warfare and because of his banishment hating Alexander — for it was by his order that Charidemus had been expelled from Athens — he proceeded to ask the Greek whether he seemed to him sufficiently equipped to trample down his enemy. But Charidemus, forgetting his condition and the pride of kings, replied: “You perhaps would not wish to hear the truth, but I, if I do not speak now, at some other time shall admit it in vain. This army so splendidly equipped, this throng of so many nations and of the whole Orient, called forth from their homes, may be a cause of terror to their neighbours; it gleams with purple and gold, is resplendent with arms and with riches so great that those who have not seen them with their own eyes cannot imagine them. But the Macedonian army, grim, it is true, and unkempt-looking, covers with its shields and spears immovable wedges and serried power of men. They themselves call it the phalanx, a steadfast body of infantry; man stands close to man, weapons are joined to weapons. Intent upon the nod of their commander, they have learned to follow the standards, to keep their ranks; what is ordered all obey. How to oppose, make circuits, run to support either wing, to change the order of battle the soldiers are as well skilled as their leaders.
“And do not suppose that they are led by a desire for gold and silver; so far they have maintained that discipline in the school of poverty; when they are wearied, the earth is their bed, such food as they can snatch amid toil satisfies them, their time for sleep is shorter than the night. The Thessalian, the Acarnanian, and the Aetolian horsemen, invincible in war, will forthwith, forsooth, be repulsed by slings and by spears hardened in the fire! Strength like theirs is what you need; in that land which gave them birth you must look for aid: send that silver and gold of yours to hire soldiers.” Darius had a mild and tractable disposition, but as a rule Fortune perverts even Nature. So, incapable of hearing the truth, he ordered a guest and a suppliant to be dragged off to execution, at the very moment when he was giving most salutary advice. The Greek, not even then forgetful of his free birth, said: “I have at hand an avenger of my death; that very man against whom I have warned you will exact punishment for the scorning of my advice. You for your part, so suddenly changed by the licence of royal power, will be a lesson to coming generations that when men have surrendered themselves to Fortune, they forget even their very nature.” As Charidemus was shouting these words, those to whom the order had been given cut his throat. Afterwards, too late, the king repented, and admitting that the Greek had spoken the truth, gave orders that he be given funeral rites.
III. Thymondas, son of Mentor, was an energetic young man; he was ordered by the king to take over from Pharnabazus all the foreign soldiers in whom Darius had the greatest confidence: Thymondas was to use their services in the war. To Pharnabazus himself he transferred the command which he had previously given to Memnon.
Then, worried as he was by pressing cares, he was also tormented in sleep by visions of imminent dangers, whether these were called up by anxiety or by the divining power of a prophetic mind, Alexander’s camp seemed to him to shine with a great glow of fire, and he dreamed that a little later Alexander was brought to him in the garb in which he himself had been made king, and that then, riding on horseback through Babylon, he had vanished from his sight, horse and all. Besides this, the soothsayers had distracted his troubled mind by varying interpretations; some said that that dream was of good omen for the king because the enemies’ camp had burned, and because he had seen Alexander, after laying aside his regal dress, brought to him attired as a Persian, and that too, dressed like one of the common sort; others disagreed: for they conjectured that to have seen the Macedonians’ camp illuminated foretold brilliance for Alexander; that he was fated even to seize the rule of Asia was shown beyond doubt, since Darius had worn the same attire when he was named king. Worry had recalled old omens also, as is usual; for they bethought themselves that Darius at the beginning of his rule had ordered that the form of the Persian scabbard of the scimitar should be changed to that shape which the Greeks used, and that the Chaldeans had at once declared that the empire of the Persians would pass to those whose arms he had imitated. However, Darius himself, rejoicing greatly both because of the prediction of the seers which was made public, and the vision which had appeared to him in his sleep, gave orders that the camp should be advanced toward the Euphrates.
It was an ancestral custom of the Persians not to begin a march before sunrise. When the day was already bright, the signal was given from the king’s tent with the horn; above the tent, from which it might be seen by all, there gleamed an image of the sun enclosed in crystal. Now the order of march was as follows. In front on silver altars was carried the fire which they called sacred and eternal. Next came the Magi, chanting their traditional hymn. These were, followed by three hundred and sixty-five young men clad in purple robes, equal in number to the days of a whole year; for the Persians also divided the year into that number of days. After that, white horses drew the chariot consecrated to Jupiter; these were followed by a horse of extraordinary size, which they called the steed of the Sun. Golden wands and white robes adorned the drivers of the horses. Not far off there were ten chariots, embossed with much gold and silver. These were followed by the horsemen of twelve nations of varying arms and customs.
Next marched those whom the Persians call “the Immortals” to the number of ten thousand. No others were more adorned with the splendour of barbaric wealth; theirs were golden necklets, and garments adorned with cloth of gold and long-sleeved tunics adorned even with gems. At a short interval came those whom they call the king’s kindred, 15,000 men. This throng indeed, with its almost feminine elegance, was conspicuous rather for luxury than for elegant arms. The troop next to these, who were accustomed to take care of the royal robes, were called Spear-bearers. These preceded the king’s chariot, in which he rode outstanding among the rest.
Both sides of the chariot were adorned with images of the gods, embossed in gold and silver; the yoke was ornamented with sparkling gems, and on it rose two golden images a cubit high of the king’s ancestors, one of Ninus, the other of Belus. Between these they had consecrated a golden eagle, represented with outstretched wings.
The attire of the king was noteworthy beyond all else in luxury; a purple-edged tunic woven about a white centre, a cloak of cloth of gold, ornamented with golden hawks, which seemed to attack each other with their beaks; from a golden belt, with which he was girt woman-fashion, he had hung a scimitar, the scabbard of which was a single gem.”
The Persians called the king’s head-dress cidaris; this was bound with a blue fillet variegated with white. The chariot was followed by 10,000 lancers, carrying spears richly adorned with silver and tipped with a point of gold. About two hundred of the noblest relatives of the king attended him on the right and on the left. The rear of this part of the procession was brought up by 30,000 foot-soldiers, followed by four hundred of the king’s horses.
Next, at an interval of a single stade, one chariot carried Sisigambis, Darius’ mother, and in another was his wife. A throng of women of the queens’ household rode on horses. Then followed fifteen of what they call karmamaxaed; in these
were the king’s children and their governesses, and a herd of eunuchs, who are not at all despised by those peoples. Next rode the 365 concubines of the king, these also regally dressed and adorned. After these 600 mules and 300 camels carried the king’s money, preceded by a guard of bowmen. Next to this division rode the wives of his relatives and friends, and troops of sutlers and batmen. Last of all were bands of lightarmed troops, to bring up the rear, each with its own officers.
If on the other hand anyone should look upon the Macedonians’ army, its appearance was different; men and horses gleaming, not with gold and parti coloured garments, but with steel and bronze; an army prepared to stand or to follow, not over weighted with excessive numbers or with baggage, watchful, not only for the signal, but even for the nod of its leader. Thus there was enough room for both a camp and the army’s supplies. Hence Alexander did not lack soldiers in the battle; Darius, king of so vast a multitude, was reduced by the narrow limits of the place in which he fought to the small number which he had scorned in his enemy.
IV. Meanwhile Alexander, having given Sabistamenes charge of Cappadocia, on his way to Cilicia with all his forces had arrived at the place which is called the Camp of Cyrus; there Cyrus had had a permanent camp when he was leading his army into Lydia against Croesus. That place was distant fifty stadia from the pass by which we enter Cilicia; the Gates is what the natives call that very narrow entrance, and in its natural formation it resembles fortifications made by our human hands. Therefore Arsames, who governed Cilicia, recalling what Memnon had advised at the beginning of the war, decided too late to follow a plan which at the time was salutary; he devastates Cilicia with fire and sword, in order to make a desert for the enemy, and destroys everything that could be of use, intending to leave barren and bare the soil which he was unable to defend.
Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus Page 7