[441] According to _Curtius_ (v. 6) these forces amounted to nearly 15,000 men. Amyntas also brought with him fifty sons of the chief men in Macedonia, who wished to serve as royal pages. Cf. _Diodorus_, xvii. 64. [442] A river flowing through Susiana, formed by the junction of the Eulaeus and Coprates. [443] Cf. _Strabo_, xv. 3. [444] πλεονεκτούμενοι, with dative, defrauded of. Cf. _Demosthenes_, 1035, 26. [445] γέρα. An Homeric expression. [446] Named Sisygambis (_Curtius_, v. 11). [447] This was the Araxes. See _Strabo_, xv. 3. [448] Notice the use of the adverb πρίν with the genitive, instead of the preposition πρό. Cf. Pindar (_Pythia_, iv. 76) πρὶν ὥρας. [449] _Curtius_ (v. 16) says that Ariobarzanes after a bloody contest got away through the Macedonian lines, with about 40 horsemen and 5,000 foot, and made for Persepolis. Being shut out of that fortress, he was overtaken and slain with all his companions. Cf. _Diodorus_ (xvii. 68). [450] _Diodorus_ (xvii. 69) and _Justin_ (xi. 14) state that on approaching Persepolis, Alexander met 800 Grecian captives, mutilated by loss of arms, legs, eyes, ears, or other members. _Curtius_ (v. 17-19) says there were 4,000 of them. Alexander offered to send these men home, with means of future support; but they preferred to remain in Persis. The king gave them money, clothing, cattle, and land. [451] _Diodorus_ (xvii. 71) and _Curtius_ (v. 20) both state that the amount of treasure captured at Persepolis was 120,000 talents, or £27,600,000. In his own letter Alexander stated that there was sufficient treasure and valuable property to load 10,000 mule carts and 5,000 camels (Plutarch, _Alex._, 37). Curtius tells us that 6,000 talents were captured at Pasargadae. [452] Pasargadae was the old capital of Persia, founded by Cyrus; but its place was afterwards taken by Persepolis. [453] _Diodorus_ (xvii. 70, 71) and _Curtius_ (v. 20, 22) say that Alexander delivered Persepolis to his soldiers to pillage, and that he ordered a general massacre of the inhabitants. These authors agree with Plutarch (_Alex._, 38) in asserting that in a drunken revel he was instigated by the courtesan Thais to set fire to the palace, and accompanied her to commence the act of destruction. See _Dryden’s_ famous ode. But Arrian’s account establishes the fact that the fire was the result of a deliberate plan. As regards the massacre, _Plutarch_ (37) expressly states that Alexander wrote home that he ordered it from motives of policy. [454] This was the principal pass through the Elburz mountains from Media into Hyrcania and Parthia.