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 23 the Persians (i.e., Persepolis) and arrived there before the garrison had plundered the treasure." To this concise account of Arrian the rhetoricallyornate narrative of Curtius adds a few useful details.® We are told in it that the guide on the difficult movement was a Lycian who as a captive shepherd had become familiar with the mountain heights

; also that when the march was started at the third watch of night, the soldiers were made to take with them food supplies for three days. The ascent over precipitous rocky slopes was made still more trying by snowdrifts. After the mountain crest was reached the route towards Ariobarzanes lay to the right. Here mention is made also of a light force of mixed foot and horse, under Philotas, Coenus, Amyntas and Polypercon, being detached to proceed over easy and fertile ground.

1

0 After Alexander had continued his march by a difficult path well removed from observation by the enemy a halt was made by midday to let the troops have much-needed rest and food. Half the distance to the enemy had by that time been covered. The march was then resumed by the second watch of night. The ground, though less precipitous than before, still offered serious difficulties, in particular owing to a deep-cut torrent bed to be traversed in the darkness. Finally after day had broken, the Macedonians reached a height overlooking the Persian / 9 See Curtius, I

.e., V. iv. 1

0 Ibid. v. iv. 20. The subsequent reference (V. iv. 25) made to this force as aiding in the final rout of the Persians holding the Gates clearly shows that Curtius or the writer he follows has here misunderstood his source. The description given of the ground over which the detachment was to proceed as easy and fertile leaves no doubt about that detachment being meant which according to Arrian was sent ahead to bridge the river Araxes and thus to expedite Alexander's move on Persepolis.