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 21 stones rolled down from the heights and the missiles discharged from above upon their serried host. In Arrian's more sober account we read that Alexander, " as his troops were suffering much damage, being assailed by volleys from commanding heights and even from catapults, for the moment fell back on his camp ", 6 In connexion with this enforced retirement, Curtius rightly emphasizes the depressing effect it must have had on the great conqueror, now repulsed for the first time in his victorious progress through the Persian empire. He adds the important detail that the camp to which Alexander was obliged to recall his troops was placed in an open position 30 stadia, or about 3J miles, from the ground held by the enemy. This detail is confirmed by Diodorus, in whose text the erroneous figure of 300 (rpiaKocríov<i) stadia is a clerical error long ago corrected into 30 ( rpiarovra ) with reference to Curtius and a corresponding short notice of Polyaenus. 7 The move by which Alexander extricated his force from the very precarious situation resulting from this initial defeat is told by the several historians in a fashion agreeing on all essential points. Arrian's account, being both clear and sober, may therefore be conveniently reproduced. 8 Prisoners which Alexander had taken " undertook to lead him round by a different route, so that he could make his way within the gates. But gathering from enquiry that this route was rough and narrow he left Craterus there in charge of the camp with his own brigade and Meleager's, a few of the archers, and about five hundred horse, bidding him, so 6 See Arrian, I.e. III. xviii. 3 ; Curtius, v. iii. ; Diodorus, XVII. lxviii. 2, 3. 7 Cf. note 23 in Fischer's edition of Diodorus, vol. iv. p. 239 ; Polyaenus, Strategemata , IV. iii. 27. 8 See Arrian, Anabasis , transl. Robson, III. xviii. 4-10.
