Alexander
arrives at
Arbela.
Alexander
continues his
march to
Babylon
Bactrians, some Persians, his kindred, a few Melophori, and
about 2,000 foreign mercenaries,1 proceeded to the Atropa-
tenian Ecbatana, probably by Rowandiz, from whence traversing
the Zagros at the pass of the Keli-shin, he finally arrived
at the Median Ecbatana.8 Alexander reached Arbela too late
to get possession of Darius, but the royal furniture and rich
stuffs, together with 4,000 talents, fell into his hands.3
As Darius had foreseen, the route of Babylon was taken,
and in four days Alexander reached the city of Memnis, evidently
Kerkuk, from the distance, as well as from the particulars
given of a fountain in a cavern, with such an abundance
of bitumen that it supplied cement for a great part of the walls
of the capital.4
On approaching the Queen of the East, Mazaeus came with
his family to offer the city and his services, to which the conqueror
was entitled agreeably to eastern custom; and thus a
very formidable siege became unnecessary. The inhabitants
perfumed the streets with incense and spices, and the Magi, the
Chaldeans, the soothsayers, and the musicians having attended
the triumphal march of Alexander, he sacrificed to Belus, and
gave directions for the restoration of the celebrated temple
devoted to this deity.5
1 Arrian, lib. I I I ., cap. xvi.
2 Major Rawlinson, Vol. X., Eoy. Geog. Journ., pp. 21, 149.
a Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. i., but Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ., p. 538, says
3,000 silver talents.
4 Quint. Curt., ibid. s Arrian, lib. I I I . , cap. xvi.
CHAPTER X.
CAMPAIGNS OF ALEXANDER IN SOUTHERN, NORTHERN, AND EASTERN
PERSIA, ALSO IN BACTRIANA, SOGDIANA, AND EASTWARD OF THE
RIVER INDUS.
March to Susa, the Persian Gates, and Persepolis.—Advance to Ecbatana.—
Treasure found in those Cities.—Advance to the Caspian Gates.—Pursuit
and Death of Darius.—Invasion of Hyrcania.—Campaigns in KhonLsan
and Drangiana.—Alexandria ad Caucasum b u ilt.—Invasion of B actria.—
Passage of the Oxus.—March to Maracanda and the Jaxartes.—Siege of
Cyropolis.—Activity of Spitamenes.—Warlike People north of the Paro-
pamisus.—Capture of the P o rt of Oxyartes.—Alexander’s Marriage to
Roxana.—Expedition into Margiana.—Hill Fo rt of the Paraetacas taken.
—Winter at Zariaspa, and Death of Clitus.—Return across the Paropa-
misus, and March to the Indus.—Siege of Aornas.—Visit to Nysa.—
Alexander passes the Indus and defeats Porus.—Sakala taken.—The Army
refuses to cross the River Hyphasis.
To the wealth of Babylon the army had looked forward as the
reward of their past labours and dangers, as well as of those to
be encountered in overcoming the vast preparations which had
been made to defend the seat of empire.1 But the leading
object of the growing ambition of Alexander had now been
obtained without resistance; for the mighty struggle in approaching
Arbela not only had placed the Queen of the East
at the feet of the conqueror, but also had paralysed everything
like an organized defence of the neighbouring territory; and
the second city of the empire, with its strong castle and prodigious
wealth, awaited the conqueror.
The unprotected treasures of Susa being the next object, Alexander
Alexander hastened to complete his arrangements for the g^nme^f
government of Babylonia, which with Susiana became the base BabJlon-
of still greater and more distant operations.'
The satrapy of Armenia was bestowed upon Methrines, that
1 Diod. Sic., lib, X V I I ., cap. vi., p. 518.