four miles eastward of Failioun, no doubt represents theUxian
narrow, and the Persian Gates, whose great natural strength
had been increased by art ; and moreover they were occupied
by a strong force under the Satrap Ariobarzanes.1
He expen- A determined attack was made on these defences next morn-
from the Uxii. ln S ? but as the assailants were exposed to bowmen, darters, and
machines, placed on the heights commanding each side of this
narrow defile, and being at the same time vigorously opposed
in front, Alexander was at length forced to retire. Success,
however, was only delayed ; for, on learning that some difficult
paths led through the mountains, one of those plans of attack
was speedily formed which so often lead to successful results.2
Taking the most laborious and difficult part of the enterprise,
Alexander proceeded that very night at the head of a
chosen body of light troops, and having, by extraordinary
rapidity in passing over the most difficult ground, surprised
three outposts in succession, he finally succeeded in getting
round to the rear of the Persian camp about daybreak ; and on
the trumpets announcing this success to the rest of the army,
Craterus, as had been concerted, simultaneously attacked the
opposite extremity of the pass. The enemy being now completely
surprised by Alexander’s manoeuvre, effectual resistance was in
vain ; some fled from Alexander to Craterus, whilst others
Captare of the attempted to escape from Craterus towards Alexander, and in
Jrersian bates. ii* i -i -1 •, t • i . tnis neipless situation a large proportion of the defenders were
cut to pieces ; but Ariobarzanes, with great intrepidity, made
his way towards Persepolis at the head of a few horse.3 Fresh
exertions being necessary in consequence, Alexander continued
the march without giving his troops a moment’s repose, and
finding that Philotas, who with admirable forethought, and
knowledge of the country, had been previously detached for
this purpose, had already prepared a flying bridge, the Araxes,
' Forty thousand foot and 700 horse, Arrian, lib. I I I ., cap. xviii. ; but only
25,000 foot and 300 horse, according to Diod. Sic., lib. X V II., cap. xv.,
p. 541.
A rn an , lib. I I I ., cap. x v iii.} Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ,, cap. xv. ; and
Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. iv.
8 Compare Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. iv., with Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I .,
cap. xv., p. 542, and Arrian, lib. I I I ., cap. xviii.
now the Band-emir, was crossed ; and, hurrying onward with
the cavalry, Alexander reached Persepolis in time to anticipate March to
the plunder of the royal treasury, which he privately knew ersep018,
from Tiridates, the governor, was intended by the Persians.
The city was devastated in the most remorseless manner,
with the exception of the palace and citadel. The former
was occupied by Alexander himself, and in the latter he found
the prodigious amount of 120,000 talents,1 near 27,120,000^.
sterling.
The scarped rock immediately behind the grand plateau is
evidently the remains of the acropolis,2 and the position of its
sepulchral excavations, at some distance above the ground,
without a regular entrance, agrees with that of the tombs of the
kings in the royal mountain, in which the bodies were placed,
probably by machines, and in which there were excavations
suited for the treasure.3 The ruins on the adjoining plain seem Ruins of Pa-
to have been those of Pasargada, but probably the second city sargada‘
of this name» From the other Pasargada, which was founded
by Cyrus, and now surrendered by Gobares with 6,000 talents,4
being separately mentioned, it may be inferred that it was at
some distance from the existing capital, and therefore, possibly,
it coincides with the Persagadis ( Q u . Farsa-Gerd?) and the
tomb of Cyrus, now the Mesjid-i-Madreh Suleiman on the
plains of Murgh-ab,6 about twenty-three miles north-eastward of
Persepolis, which was opened by Alexander, on his return from
India.6
That knowledge of the countries to be passed, for which Halt at Perse-
Alexander was so remarkable, induced him to halt four months wtionTme
Cosscei, &c.
1 Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. v. ; Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ., cap. xviii. ;
Justin, lib. X I ., cap. xiv.
8 Rex Arcem Persepolis, Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. vi.
8 See above, vol. I ., pp. 73, 210, and Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ., cap. xvi.
* Cyrus Persagadum urbem condiderat, quam Alexandro præfectus ejus
Gobares tradidit.—Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. vi.
5 Since the above was written, the inscription, which is five times repeated
on the pilasters at Murgh-ab, viz., Adam Qurus’ k'hs’ayâ-piyâ
Hâkhdmâni'siya, has been translated, Ego Cyrus, rex Achæmenius.
Mémoires de la Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, Copenhagen, 1844,
p. 422.
8 Quint. Curt,, lib. V., cap. i.