[8] Called the battle of Arbela, from a neighbouring city, just as the “crowning mercy” of Waterloo was in reality bestowed at a considerable distance from the town indelibly associated with it. [9] According to Grigorieff, this means the district lying between the Oxus and Shahrisabz. [10] The stadium was 600 feet in length; but, as the foot varied greatly in ancient time, this measure of length was never certain. The “great stadium,” otherwise known as the Alexandrian or Egyptian, was .12 of a geographical mile. [11] Grigorieff suggests the identification of this place with the old town of Baykand, or with Hezārasp, in the Khorasmian oasis. [12] It may perhaps be identified with Kalāt-i-Nādiri to the north-east of Meshed, called also the “Soghdian Rock.” The famous Roxana, whom Alexander soon afterwards married, was the daughter of a certain Oxyartes, who was among the captives taken with this fort. [13] Rollin, _Ancient History_, v. 210. See also Quintus Curtius. [14] He may, for example, have visited Iskander Kul, a lake which to this day bears his name. [15] Cf. Gutschmid, _Geschichte Irans_, p. 22. [16] In B.C. 327 Seleucus I. had been placed in charge of Syria and the East, and of Babylon--to which, with the aid of Antigonus, he added Susiana. In 316, owing to a quarrel with Antigonus, he fled to Egypt, but in 312 he re-entered Babylon. The era of the Seleucidæ dates from this event. Seleucus extended his dominions as far as the Oxus and the Indus. Not till 306 did he officially adopt the title of king. Gutschmid, _op. cit._ p. 24. [17] Cf. E. Drouin, _loc. cit._ [18] Diodotus seems to have prepared his subjects for this change of masters by issuing coins of the type struck by Antiochus II., but bearing his own portrait. Cf. Gardner, _Greek and Scythian Coins_, p. 20. [19] _Hist._ x. _ad fin._ xi. 34. [20] Gardner, _Greek and Scythian Coins_, p. 21. [21] Cf. Justin, xii. 4: “Parthis deinde domitis prefectus his statuitur ex nobilis Persarum Andragoras: inde postea originem Parthorum reges habuere.” [22] Parthian Coinage, _Numismata Orientalia_, vol. i. p. 2. Strabo, xi. 9. 2. [23] Justin, xii. 6: “Imperiumque parthorum a monte Caucaso multis populis indicionem redactis usque flumen Euphratem protulit.” [24] _Ibid._ xlii. 1. [25] Gardner, _ibid._ p. 6. [26] Gardner, _ibid._ p. 6. [27] See Note 1 at p. 6 of Chap. iii. [28] Strabo, xi. 8. 2. [29] This sentiment finds many echoes in Latin literature. Cf. _Odes_ and _Epistles_ of Horace, _passim_. It is curious to note the identity between the tactics of the Parthians and those of the hordes of Chingiz and Tīmūr. The usual charge of bad faith is brought by the Romans against their terrible enemies. [30] The Straits of Yenekale. [31] The three great reformers Lao-tse, Kung-fu-tse (Confucius), and Meng-tse (Mencius) flourished under the princes of this dynasty.