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The Seventeenth Book of Diodorus: in Two Parts
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Now he set out on the road to Persepolis, and while he was on the road received a
letter from the governor of the city, whose name was Tiridates.1 It
stated that if he arrived ahead of those who planned to defend the city for Dareius, he would
become master of it, for Tiridates would betray it to him.
[2]
Accordingly Alexander led his army on by forced marches; he bridged the Araxes River and so
brought his men to the other bank.2At this point in his advance the
king was confronted by a strange and dreadful sight, one to provoke indignation against the
perpetrators and sympathetic pity for the unfortunate victims.3
[3]
He was met by Greeks bearing branches of supplication. They
had been carried away from their homes by previous kings of Persia and were about eight hundred
in number, most of them elderly. All had been mutilated, some lacking hands, some feet, and
some ears and noses.
[4]
They were persons who had acquired skills
or crafts and had made good progress in their instruction; then their other extremities had
been amputated and they were left only those which were vital to their profession. All the
soldiers, seeing their venerable years and the losses which their bodies had suffered, pitied
the lot of the wretches. Alexander most of all was affected by them and unable to restrain his
tears.
[5]
They all cried with one
voice and besought Alexander to help them in their misfortunes. The king called their leaders
to come forward and, greeting them with a respect in keeping with his own greatness of spirit,
promised to make it a matter of utmost concern that they should be restored to their homes.
[6]
They gathered to debate the matter, and decided that it would
be better for them to remain where they were rather than to return home. If they were brought
back safely, they would be scattered in small groups, and would find their abuse at the hands
of Fortune an object of reproach as they lived on in their cities. If, however, they continued
living together, as companions in misfortune, they would find a solace for their mutilation in
the similar mutilation of the others.
[7]
So they again appeared
before the king, told him of their decision, and asked him to give them help appropriate to
this proposal.
[8]
Alexander applauded their decision and gave
each of them three thousand drachmae, five men's robes and the same number for women,4 two yoke of oxen, fifty sheep, and fifty bushels of wheat. He made them
also exempt from all royal taxes and charged his administrative officials to see that they were
harmed by no one.
[9]
Thus
Alexander mitigated the lot of these unfortunate persons by such benefactions in keeping with
his natural kindness.
1 "Custos pecuniae regiae," Curtius 5.5.2.
3 This story is told at somewhat greater length by Curtius 5.5.5-24, as well as by Justin 11.14.11-12. It is not given by Plutarch or Arrian.
4 The same figures are given by Curtius 5.5.24.
Diodorus Siculus. Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes with an English Translation by C. H. Oldfather. Vol. 4-8. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989.
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References (7 total)
- Cross-references to this page
(1):
- Smith's Bio, Tirida'tes
- Cross-references in notes from this page (4):
- Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page (2):
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