The Seventeenth Book of Diodorus: in Two Parts
Contents of Part One —How Alexander, having succeeded to the throne, disposed the
affairs of his kingdom (chaps. 1-7). —How he recovered the tribes which revolted
(chap. 8.1-2). —How he razed Thebes to the ground and terrified the Greeks and was
elected general plenipotentiary of Greece (chaps. 8.3-16). —How he crossed into Asia
and defeated the satraps at the river Granicus in Phrygia (chaps. 17-21). —How he
took by siege Miletus and Halicarnassus (chaps. 22-27). —The battle of Dareius
against Alexander at Issus in Cilicia and the victory of Alexander (chaps. 30-39).
—The siege of Tyre, the occupation of Egypt, and the journey of the king to Ammon
(chaps. 40-52). —The battle of Alexander with Dareius at Arbela and the victory of
Alexander (chaps. 53-61). —The battle of Antipater with the Lacedaemonians and the
victory of Antipater (chaps. 62-63). —Contents of Part Two —The capture of
Arbela by Alexander and the seizure of great wealth (chap. 64.1-3). —The refreshment
of the army in Babylon and the rewards given to those who had distinguished themselves in
service (chap. 64.3-6). —The arrival of the mercenaries and allies dispatched to him
(chap. 65.1) —The organization and equipment of his army (chap. 65.2-4).
—How Alexander occupied Susa and its treasures (chap. 65.5-66). —How he
mastered the passes and took possession of the so-called Susian Gates (chaps. 67-68).
—How he showed kindness to the Greeks who had been mutilated, and took and sacked
Persepolis (chaps. 69-71). —How he set fire to the palace in a revel (chap. 72).
—The murder of Dareius by Bessus (chap. 73.1-4). —The expedition of
Alexander into Hyrcania and an account of its marvellous plants (chap. 75). —How
Alexander took the field against the Mardi and defeated them (chap. 76). —How
Thalestris queen of the Amazons had relations with Alexander (chap. 77.1-3). —How
the king, thinking himself invincible, imitated the luxury of the Persians (chap. 77.4-7).
—The campaign of Alexander against the Areii who had revolted and the capture of the
"Rock" (chap. 78). —The conspiracy against the king and the punishment of the
conspirators, the most distinguished among them being Parmenion and Philotas (chaps. 79-80).
—The campaign of Alexander into the territory of the Paropanisadae and his
adventures there (chap. 82). —The single combat that took place in the territory of
the Areii and their annexation (chap. 83.1-6). —The death of Bessus, the murderer of
Dareius (chap. 83.7-9). —How Alexander marched through the desert and lost many of
his men (this and the subsequent chapters are missing). —How the Branchidae, who of
old had been settled by the Persians on the borders of their kingdom, were slain by Alexander
as traitors to the Greeks. —How the king led his troops against the Sogdiani and
Scythians. —How the chieftains of the Sogdiani, who were being led off to execution,
were unexpectedly saved. —How Alexander defeated the Sogdiani who had revolted and
slew more than one hundred and twenty thousand of them. —How he punished the
Bactriani and subdued the Sogdiani a second time and founded cities in suitable places to
restrain any who rebelled. —The third rebellion of the Sogdiani and capture of those
who took refuge in the "Rock." —Concerning the hunt in Basista and the abundance of
game there. —Concerning the sin against Dionysus and the slaying of Cleitus at the
drinking bout. —Concerning the death of Callisthenes. —The campaign of the
king against the people called Nautaces and the destruction of the army in heavy snow.
—How Alexander, enamoured of Roxane, daughter of Oxyartes, married her and persuaded
numbers of his friends to marry the daughters of the prominent Iranians.
—Preparation for the campaign against the Indians. —Invasion of India and
complete annihilation of their first nation in order to overawe the rest. —How he
benefited the city named Nysia because of his relationship to it through Dionysus.
—How, after plundering the stronghold of Massaca, he cut down all the mercenaries
although they fought magnificently (chap. 84). —How he took by assault the Rock
called Aornus, which had always proved impregnable (chap. 85). —How he won over to
his side Taxiles, king of the Indians, and in a great engagement defeated Porus, took him
prisoner and gave him back his throne because of his gallant conduct (chaps. 86-89).
—An account of the marvellous serpents in the country and of the fruits which grow
there (chap. 90). —How he won over to his side many of the neighbouring tribes and
defeated others (chap. 91.1-4). —How he subdued the country that was subject to
Sopeithes (chap. 91.4). —Concerning the good government of the cities in this
country (chap. 91.4-6). —Concerning the excellence of the dogs presented to
Alexander (chap. 92). —Concerning the story told by the king of the Indians (chap.
93.1-3). —How, when Alexander desired to cross the Ganges River and march against
the people called Gandaridae, the Macedonians mutinied (chaps. 93.4-94). —How, after
marking the furthest point reached by his army, the king visited the remaining regions of the
Indians (chap. 95). —How he sailed down the Indus River to the southern Ocean, and
almost died of an arrow wound (chaps. 96-99). —Concerning the single combat that
issued from a challenge (chaps. 100-101). —Concerning the Indians whom he conquered
on both banks of the river as far as the Ocean (chaps. 102-103). —Concerning the
marvels and practices found among the inhabitants and about the men who live a brutish
existence (chaps. 104-106.3). —How the naval expedition through the Ocean rejoined
Alexander as he was encamped by the sea and gave an account of their voyage (chap. 106.4-7).
—How again setting sail they skirted a long expanse of coastline (chap. 107.1).
—How he selected thirty thousand young Persians, trained them in military exercises
and formed them into a counterpart of his Macedonian phalanx (chap. 108.1-3). —How
Harpalus, who was accused of luxurious living and excessive expenditures, fled from Babylon
and sought the protection of the people of Athens (chap. 108.4-7). —How he fled from
Attica and was killed; he had deposited seven hundred talents of his money with the Athenians
and placed four thousand talents and eight thousand mercenaries on Taenarum in Laconia (chap.
108.7-8). —How Alexander, having paid the debts of his veteran Macedonians, which
cost him ten thousand talents, returned them to their homes (chap. 109.1-2). —How
the Macedonians revolted and he punished their ringleaders (chap. 109.2-3). —How
Peucestes brought to Alexander ten thousand bowmen and slingers whom he had recruited from
among the Persians (chap. 110.2). —How the king reorganized his army by
intermingling Persians with Macedonians (chap. 110.1). —How he paid expenses and
educational fees for all the soldiers' children, ten thousand in number (chap. 110.3).
—How Leosthenes made preparations for starting a war against the Macedonians (chap.
111.1-3). —How Alexander campaigned against the Cossaeans (chap. 111.4-6).
—How, as the king was on his way to Babylon, the Chaldaeans prophesied to Alexander
that he would die if he entered Babylon (chap. 112.1-3). —How the king at first was
frightened and passed Babylon by, but later, persuaded by the Greek philosophers, entered the
city (chap. 112.4-6). —Concerning the multitude of embassies that arrived there
(chap. 113). —Concerning the funeral of Hephaestion and the large sum expended on it
(chaps. 114-115). —Concerning the omens that appeared to Alexander and concerning
his death (chaps. 116-118).
