É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)

Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs

Sec. iii] ALEXANDER AT PERSIAN GATES 19 time the vast treasures there amassed by the Achaemenian monarchs. A look at the map suffices to show that the old caravan route leading through Behbehän, Bäsht and Fahliün to the Ardakän plateau, attested as we shall see by a succession of ancient remains, is the only direct one which can be considered. But without close topographical knowledge of the ground, for which no proper survey was so far available, it was obviously impossible to follow Alexander's movements just where the data in the classical records are sufficiently detailed to permit of proper location. Apart from the references to the defile held by the Uxian hillmen, which we shall have occasion to consider further on, we are given such details only with regard to the operations of Alexander at the pass giving access to the plateau of Persis and described as the ' Persian (or Susian) Gates '. They concern the Macedonians' advance towards the pass, their repulse by the Persian force under Ariobarzanes holding it, and Alexander's subsequent turning movement executed over very difficult ground which enabled him to take the defenders in the rear and, after their defeat, rapidly to make his way unopposed to Persepolis. From the fairly detailed and in all essentials concordant accounts of Alexander's historians, Arrian, Curtius and Diodorus,

2 we learn ,that, after having completely subjugated the Uxians' territory intermediate between Susiana and Persis, he " sent off the baggage trains, the Thessalian cavalry, the allies, the mercenaries, and all the other heavier armed troops of his army with Parmenio, to lead them 2 See Arrian, Anabasis, III. xviii. ; Curtius, Históriáé, V. iv., v.; Diodorus, Bibliotheca, XVII. lxviii.