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20.
When Amyntas made this request and had gone his way, Alexander said to the Persians, “Sirs, you have full freedom to deal with these women, and may have intercourse with all or any of them.
[2]
As to that, you may make your own decision, but now, since the hour of your rest is drawing near and I see that you are all completely drunk, allow these women to depart and wash, if this is your desire. When they have washed, wait for them to come to you again.”
[3]
When he had said this and the Persians had given their consent, he sent the women out and away to their apartments. Alexander then took as many beardless men as there were women, dressed them in the women's clothes, and gave them daggers. These he brought in, and said to the Persians,
[4]
“I believe, men of Persia, that you have feasted to your hearts' content. All that we had and all besides that we could find to give you has been set before you, and now we make you a free gift of our best and most valued possession, our own mothers and sisters. Be aware that in so doing we are giving you all the honor that you deserve, and tell your king who sent you how his Greek viceroy of Macedonia has received you hospitably, providing food and bedfellows.”
[5]
With that, Alexander seated each of his Macedonians next to a Persian, as though they were women, and when the Persians began to lay hands on them, they were killed by the Macedonians.
Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.
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References (20 total)
- Commentary references to this page
(1):
- Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus, 513-862
- Cross-references to this page
(1):
- Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 1.3.1
- Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page
(18):
- LSJ, ἀποσημ-αίνω
- LSJ, ἑστιῶν αὐτούς
- LSJ, ἔοικα
- LSJ, ἔχω
- LSJ, ἐπιδαψι^λεύω
- LSJ, εὐπέτ-εια
- LSJ, γυ^ναικ-εῖος
- LSJ, κοίτ-η
- LSJ, λειο-γένειος
- LSJ, λούω
- LSJ, μέθη
- LSJ, ὁπόσος
- LSJ, πα^ν-δαισία
- LSJ, παρ-άγω
- LSJ, παρίζω
- LSJ, σκευάζω
- LSJ, σχεδ-όν
- LSJ, τράπεζ-α
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