The Anabasis of Alexander : $b or, The history of the wars and conquests of Alexander the GreatArrian
History
The Anabasis of Alexander : $b or, The history of the wars and conquests of Alexander the Great
Arrian
Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.; India -- History -- To 324 B.C.; Iran -- History -- To 640
At Memphis, many embassies from Greece reached him; and he sent away
no one disappointed by the rejection of his suit. From Antipater
also arrived an army of 400 Grecian mercenaries under the command of
Menidas, son of Hegesander: likewise from Thrace 500 cavalry, under
the direction of Asclepiodorus, son of Eunicus. Here he offered
sacrifice to Zeus the King, led his soldiers fully armed in solemn
procession, and celebrated a gymnastic and musical contest. He then
settled the affairs of Egypt, by appointing two Egyptians, Doloaspis
and Petisis, governors of the country, dividing between them the
whole land; but as Petisis declined his province, Doloaspis received
the whole. He appointed two of the Companions to be commandants of
garrisons: Pantaleon the Pydnaean in Memphis, and Polemo, son of
Megacles, a Pellaean, in Pelusium. He also gave the command of the
Grecian auxiliaries to Lycidas, an Aetolian, and appointed Eugnostus,
son of Xenophantes, one of the Companions, to be secretary over the
same troops. As their overseers he placed Aeschўlus and Ephippus the
Chalcidean. The government of the neighbouring country of Libya he
granted to Apollonius, son of Charinus; and the part of Arabia near
Heroöpolis[372] he put under Cleomenes, a man of Naucratis.[373] This
last was ordered to allow the governors to rule their respective
districts according to the ancient custom; but to collect from them the
tribute due to him. The native governors were also ordered to pay it to
Cleomenes. He appointed Peucestas, son of Macartatus, and Balacrus, son
of Amyntas, generals of the army which he left behind in Egypt; and he
placed Polemo, son of Theramenes, over the fleet as admiral. He made
Leonnatus, son of Anteas, one of his body-guards instead of Arrhybas,
who had died of disease. Antiochus, the commander of the archers, also
died; and in his stead Ombrion the Cretan was appointed. When Balacrus
was left behind in Egypt, the allied Grecian infantry, which had been
under his command, was put under that of Calanus. Alexander was said
to have divided the government of Egypt among so many men, because he
was surprised at the natural strength of the country, and he thought it
unsafe to entrust the rule of the whole to a single person. The Romans
also seem to me to have learned a lesson from him, and therefore keep
Egypt under strong guard; for they do not send any of the senators
thither as proconsul for the same reason, but only men who have the
rank among them of Equites (Knights).[374]
CHAPTER VI.
MARCH INTO SYRIA.—ALEXANDER’S KINDNESS TO HARPALUS AND HIS OTHER EARLY
ADHERENTS.
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