of body-guards, killed part of them, and obliged the rest to fly. At
the same time, the city being taken on the side which lay towards the
harbour, the Macedonians made great slaughter, being highly exasperated
at the long resistance of the besieged, and the barbarities that had
been exercised upon some of their comrades.
The Tyrians, finding themselves overpowered in all quarters, acted as
men generally do on such occasions: some ran to the temples, to implore
the assistance of their gods; others, shutting themselves up in their
houses, escaped the sword of the victor by a voluntary death; whilst
the brave remainder rushed upon the enemy, resolved to sell their lives
at the dearest rate. At first, the citizens resorted to the customary
defence of assaulted cities, and threw stones, bricks, tiles, and
everything that came to hand upon the advancing Greeks. The king gave
orders to kill all the inhabitants except such as had taken refuge
in the temples, and to set fire to every part of Tyre. Although this
order was published by sound of trumpet, scarcely a person bearing arms
availed himself of the asylum pointed out. The temples were principally
filled by the young women and children who had not gone to Carthage:
the old men calmly awaited at the doors of their houses the swords of
the exasperated soldiery. The Sidonians in Alexander’s army, or rather
fleet, saved great numbers; for, remembering their common origin,
Agenor having founded both Tyre and Sidon, they had been accustomed to
consider the Tyrians as compatriots, and did not desert them in their
hour of need, though policy had compelled them to assist in bringing it
on. They conveyed them privately on board their ships, and gave them
a home in Sidon. The extent of the slaughter may be imagined, when we
learn that six thousand soldiers were cut to pieces on the ramparts. Of
all great conquerors, we are disposed to like Alexander the best; he
had so many fine redeeming qualities, and was such a rare combination
of the high gifts of valour and wisdom; therefore we write with regret,
that on this occasion the savage warrior prevailed over the civilized
Greek, and he immolated, by having them nailed to crosses, two thousand
men who were left after the soldiers had glutted their revenge. He
pardoned the Carthaginian ambassadors, who had come to their ancient
metropolis to offer up their annual sacrifice to Hercules. The number
of prisoners, who were all sold into slavery, amounted to thirty
thousand. Notwithstanding the length and obstinacy of the siege, the
loss of the Macedonians was trifling.
Alexander offered a sacrifice to Hercules, and celebrated gymnastic
games in honour of the great demigod. He had the golden chains
removed from the statue of Apollo, and ordered that worship should
thenceforward be offered to him under the name of Philoalexander.
The city of Tyre was taken about the end of September, after a seven
months’ siege.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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