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

Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs

I

O IN WESTERNMOST FÄRS [Chap. I position. Their unexpected attack aided by Craterus' advance from below the pass then speedily brought about the enemy's complete rout with much slaughter. Ariobarzanes, however, is stated to have escaped with some of his men towards Persepolis only to be subsequently cut down by his pursuers. Diodorus's narrative (xvn. lxviii. 5-7) is much shorter but confirms the mention of the Lycian guide and the great toil undergone in the ascent from the steepness of the wooded mountainside and the deep snow met. It also refers to the difficult nature of the ground traversed farther on, broken as it was by deep torrent beds and many ravines. The unexpected attack of the Macedonians is described as overpowering in succession three outposts of the enemy and finally leading to the capture of the pass and the destruction of Ariobarzanes' force. A comparison of the inset map prepared from our plane-table survey and the careful route-sketch made along the caravan track by Professor Herzfeld on his journey in 1905 shows how closely Alexander's operations recorded in the classical accounts we have examined agree with the topographical features as observed on our move across the southern rim of the Ardakän plateau and down into the head of the Tang-i-khä§ valley. In describing this move I have already called special attention to the remarkable stretch of gently-sloping open ground, known as Mullah Süsan (Fig. 3). Enclosed on all sides by very steep wooded slopes, it forms a striking feature at the head of Tang-i-khäs valley, elsewhere extremely confined at its bottom. This open tree-girt plateau fully 1 mile in length is the only space within the valley which could afford