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So with great difficulty Alexander passed through the desert and came into a well-populated country provided with everything needful.1 Here he rested his army, and for seven days proceeded with his troops in festive dress. He himself led a Dionysiac comus, feasting and drinking as he travelled.2

1 This was Gedrosia; Curtius 9.10.18; Plut. Alexander 66.3; 67.4; Arrian. 6.27.1.

2 This was in Carmania. Curtius 9.10.22-28 gives a lurid account of this celebration; so also Plut. Alexander 67.1-3. Arrian. 6.28.1-2 states that this story was not told by Ptolemy or Aristobulus, and that he himself did not believe it. It may be connected, however, with the tradition of dramatic and athletic games held at this time in celebration of the safe return of both army and fleet (E. Badian, Classical Quarterly, 52 (1958), 152). But both Philip (Book 16.87.1) and Alexander (chap. 72.5) were fond of the comus in general.

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