Aelian - Varia Historia.rtf

8/10/2019 Aelian - Varia Historia.rtf

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Aelian - Varia Historia

Book I.25

Alexander son of Philip (if anyone thinks he was the son of Zeus it !akes no differen"e

to !e# added the for!ula of $reetin$ to his letters they say only when writin$ to the

Athenian $eneral Pho"ion. %u"h was the i!pression Pho"ion had !ade on the&a"edonian. But Alexander also $a'e hi! a hundred talents of sil'er and na!ed four

"ities with the reuest that he should "hoose one of the! a""ordin$ to his preferen"e in

order to )e a)le to en*oy re'enues fro! it. +he "ities were ,ios laea &ylasa and

Patara.+his was $enerous and hi$h-!inded on Alexanders part/ )ut Pho"ion was e'en

!ore hi$h-!inded sin"e he a""epted neither the !oney nor the "ity. Howe'er as it was

not his wish to show open "onte!pt for Alexander he honored hi! in the followin$ way0

he asked Alexander to release for hi! the prisoners held in the "itadel at %ardis.

"he"ratides the sophist Athenodoros of I!)ros 1e!aratus and %parton these two

were )rothers fro! 3hodes.

Book 2.4Alexander looked at Apelles portrait of hi! in phesus and did not $i'e it the praise

whi"h its artistry deser'ed. hen his horse was )rou$ht alon$ it whinnied at the horse

in the pi"ture as if it too were real and Apelles said 67our !a*esty the horse "ertainly

see!s to ha'e !u"h )etter taste in art than you do.8

Book 2.9:

hen Alexander had defeated 1arius and taken o'er the Persian e!pire he was 'ery

proud of his a"hie'e!ent. ;eelin$ hi!self raised to the le'el of di'inity )y the $ood

fortune whi"h had now o'ertaken hi! he sent an introdu"tion to the


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talent/ the runner-up won thirty !inae and the third pri>e was ten. +he person who

"ele)rated 'i"tory was Pro!a"hus.

Book 4.?

,rates of +he)es $a'e !any proofs of his lofty spirit. In parti"ular he had "onte!pt for

what the !asses ad!ired in"ludin$ !oney and ones nati'e "ity. 'eryone knows thathe turned his property o'er to the +he)ans )ut another fa"t a)out hi! is not $enerally

known. It is that he left +he)es after it had )een re)uilt sayin$ 6I ha'e no need of a "ity

whi"h a se"ond Alexander will ra>e to the $round.8

Book 4.95

+he Ar$i'es and +irynthians were also ridi"uled in "o!edy for their addi"tion to wine.

As to the +hra"ians it is now a well-esta)lished "o!!onpla"e that they are $reat

drinkers. +he Illyrians do not es"ape the sa!e "riti"is!/ )ut they ha'e )een a""used of

so!ethin$ else in addition it is per!issi)le at their dinners for ea"h of the $uests if he

so wishes to toast the wo!en e'en if the wo!an in uestion is no relation.

Book 4.9@

I would also "lass as politi"al the a"ti'ity of Persaeus who was tutor to Anti$onus and of

Aristotle who "learly li'ed as a philosopher with the youn$ Alexander son of Philip.

ysis the dis"iple of Pytha$oras was tutor to pa!inondas. %o if anyone says that

philosophers are ina"ti'e his "o!!ent is na'e and stupid. I would $rasp with ala"rity

the leisure they en*oy and their lo'e of tranuility.

Book 4.24

Alexanders a"hie'e!ents at the


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and returned to Ba)ylon.

Book 4.42

hen he was a )oy not yet an adoles"ent Alexander the son of Philip learned to play

the "ithara. +he tea"her told hi! to tou"h a strin$ in tune and in a""ordan"e with the

!elody. 6hat differen"e will it !ake if I tou"h that oneD8 he asked pointin$ toanother. +he tea"her replied that it !ade no differen"e to a !an destined to )e kin$/ it

was otherwise for anyone who would pra"tise the art of the "ithara. But the !an not

)ein$ unedu"ated was afraid that he !i$ht suffer the fate of inus. inus was tea"hin$

the "hild Hera"les the "ithara and when he handled the instru!ent "lu!sily inus was

annoyed with hi!. Hera"les was an$ry atta"ked inus with his ple"tru! and killed hi!.

Book 4.=5

+hey say Philip re"ei'ed an ora"le in Boeotia at the shrine of +rophonius to the effe"t

that he !ust )e on his $uard a$ainst a "hariot. +he tradition has it that he was in fear of

the ora"le and ne'er $ot up into his "hariot. After this the story "ir"ulates in two

'ersions. %o!e say that the sword of Pausanias with whi"h he killed Philip had a"hariot "ar'ed in i'ory on the handle/ the other 'ersion that he was assassinated after

walkin$ around the lake at +he)es known as Har!a . +he first story is popular the

se"ond is not found e'erywhere.

Book 4.=@

+he $ood na!e whi"h "aused Pho"ion to )e ni"kna!ed 6the honest8 was of no

ad'anta$e nor the se'enty-fi'e years he had li'ed without har!in$ anyone in the least/

when he was found to ha'e )etrayed the Piraeus to Antipater the Athenians "onde!ned

hi! to death.

Book =.5

Benefits were re!e!)ered and thanks for the! $i'en )y +heseus to Hera"les.Aidoneus kin$ of the &olossians put +heseus in "hains when he "a!e with Pirithous to

kidnap the kin$s wife. +heseus did not want to !arry the wo!an hi!self )ut did this a

fa'our to Pirithous. Hera"les "a!e to the "ountry of the &olossians and res"ued

+heseus in return for whi"h the latter set up an altar to hi!.

Book =.9:

Philip of &a"edon was said to )e not !erely a $ood soldier and powerful speaker )ut to

ha'e the hi$hest respe"t for edu"ation. He pro'ided resour"es unstintin$ly for Aristotle

and so )e"a!e responsi)le for any other fa"ets of his wide learnin$ and in parti"ular for

his knowled$e of >oolo$y. +he son of Ei"o!a"hus produ"ed his History of Ani!als as the

fruit of Philips wealth. He also honoured Plato and +heophrastus.

Book =.2:

I "annot persuade !yself not to lau$h at Alexander the son of Philip if it is true that

when he heard there were an infinite nu!)er of worlds 1e!o"ritus says this in his

writin$s he was pained at the thou$ht of not e'en )ein$ the !aster of the one we all

know. Eeed one say how !u"h 1e!o"ritus would ha'e lau$hed at hi! lau$hter )ein$

his sto"k-in-tradeD

Book 5.?

It is ri$ht to praise the death of ,alanus/ one !i$ht e'en say to !ar'el at it. +his is how

it happened. ,alanus the Indian sa$e said $ood)ye to Alexander the &a"edonians andhis life wishin$ to free hi!self fro! the )onds of his )ody. +he pyre was set up in the


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finest su)ur) of Ba)ylon. +he wood was dry "arefully sele"ted for its fra$ran"e

"onsistin$ of "edar "itron "ypress !yrtle and laurel. Ha'in$ taken his "usto!ary

exer"ise this was to run he !ounted the !iddle of the pyre and stood there his hair

"o'ered with a "rown of reeds. +he sun shone down upon hi! and he knelt in respe"t

for it. +his was the "ue for the &a"edonians to li$ht the pyre. hen this was done the

fla!es took hold of hi! )ut he stood there unflin"hin$ and did not fall o'er until heexpired. +hen they say e'en Alexander was astounded and said that ,alanus had

defeated !ore powerful ene!ies than he had hi!self. ;or Alexander had won his

stru$$les a$ainst Porus +axila and 1arius )ut ,alanus a$ainst pain and death.

Book 5.9F

+he Athenians always prepared their na'al for"es painstakin$ly. C'er the years they

were so!eti!es su""essful so!eti!es defeated. +hey lost two hundred trire!es in

$ypt "rews and all in ,yprus one hundred and fifty/ in %i"ily two hundred and forty/

and two thousand in the Hellespont. +hey lost forty thousand hoplites in %i"ily and one

thousand at ,haeronea.

Book 5.92

I "annot suppress a likin$ for this a"t of the Athenians. 1e!ades addressed the Athenian

asse!)ly and put forward a !otion that Alexander )e the thirteenth $od. +he pu)li"

found this an intolera)le show of i!piety and i!posed a penalty of a hundred talents on

1e!ades )e"ause he had in"luded Alexander a !ortal a!on$ the Cly!pians.

Book ?.9

hen Philip won the )attle of ,haeronea he was )uoyed up )y his a"hie'e!ent as were

all the &a"edonians. +he ed )y the Persians. He "ut off his own hair

a $esture in the Ho!eri" !anner in i!itation of the poets A"hilles. But Alexander was

!ore 'iolent and hotheaded than A"hilles0 he destroyed the a"ropolis at ")atana and

kno"ked down its walls. As far as his hair is "on"erned I think he a"ted in a""ordan"e

with


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li'in$ in Asia were !ore in"lined to do so. ;or this reason so!e people dare to !aintain

that e'en Crpheus was un"ultured )e"ause he was a +hra"ian and that the !yths a)out

hi! are idle falsehoods. +his is stated )y Androtion (;ed a!on$ the )ar)arians. He took his personal

$uests fro! forei$n states to the )anuet and had the! seated fa"in$ hi!. In the

"ourtyard there was a feast for the other for"es the infantry !arines and "a'alry.

A!)assadors and


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in line first of all fi'e hundred Persians "alled the apple )earers wearin$ "loaks of

purple and uin"e yellow then "a!e a thousand ar"hers dressed in fla!e "olor and

s"arlet. In front of these were the fi'e hundred &a"edonians with sil'er shields. In the

!iddle of the tent was a $olden throne on whi"h Alexander sat to transa"t )usiness

surrounded on all sides )y )ody$uards. An en"losure wall around the tent was !anned

)y a thousand &a"edonians and ten thousand Persians. Eo one dared approa"h hi!without $ood reason as he aroused $reat fear/ his pride and $ood fortune had raised

hi! to the position of a tyrant.

Book :.4F

Anaxar"hus was on "a!pai$n with Alexander when winter )e$an. nowin$ that

Alexander would )e pit"hin$ "a!p in a spot that had no ti!)er he disposed of all his

euip!ent and loaded his pa"k ani!als with wood. hen they $ot to the "a!p and

there was a shorta$e of wood Alexanders "ou"hes were )urned in order to pro'ide hi!

with heat. But when so!eone reported that Anaxar"hus had a fire he "alled on hi! and

stayed in Anaxar"hus tent. earnin$ of the latters foresi$ht he was 'ery "o!pli!entary

a)out it and in return for the use of the fire he $a'e hi! twi"e as !u"h euip!ent and"lothin$ as he had thrown away.

Book :.4?

A "ithara player was perfor!in$ )efore Anti$onus who freuently $a'e hi! orders to

tune first the lowest strin$ then the !iddle one. +he !an was annoyed and said0 6%ire I

hope you are not o'ertaken )y su"h an e'il fate that you )e"o!e !ore expert on these

!atters than I a!.8

Book :.4@

Anaxar"hus known as 6the fortunate !an8 lau$hed at Alexander for de"larin$ hi!self

a $od. Cne day when Alexander was ill and the do"tor ordered that so!e )roth )eprepared for hi! Anaxar"hus lau$hed and said0 6+he hopes of our $od depend on a "up

of )roth.8

Book :.4G

Alexander arri'ed at +roy. As he looked around attenti'ely one of the +ro*ans "a!e up

to hi! and showed hi! the lyre )elon$in$ to Alexander. 6I should ha'e preferred to see

that of A"hilles8 he said. +his was ex"ellent fro! Alexander )e"ause he was keen to see

so!ethin$ that had )elon$ed to a $ood soldier an o)*e"t with whi"h he had sun$ the

deeds of fa!ous !en. hat did Paris lyre a""o!pany ex"ept son$s of adultery the kind

that attra"t and "har! wo!enD

Book 9F.=Alexander son of Philip wearin$ full ar!our "o!pleted three su""essi'e !ar"hes of

four hundred stades. He then atta"ked the ene!y )efore restin$ his ar!y and defeated

the opposin$ for"es.

Book 9F.22

Eote that 1ioxippus in the presen"e of Alexander and the &a"edonians took a "lu) and

fou$ht a duel a$ainst the &a"edonian hoplite ,orra$us. He )roke the !ans pike sei>ed

hold of hi! in full ar!our and stood on his ne"k as he lay on the $round. +hen he pulled

out the knife he "arried in his )elt and killed the !an. But he was hated )y Alexander

and despairin$ )e"ause of this hatred he lost heart and died.

Book 99.:


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Pho"ion too was poor. hen Alexander sent hi! a hundred talents he asked0 6hy does

he $i'e the! to !eD8 hen they said that Alexander "onsidered hi! the only $ood and

no)le Athenian he re!arked0 6+hen let hi! lea'e !e in that "ondition.8

Book 92.@

Eote that Alexander laid a wreath on A"hilles to!) and Hephaestion on Patro"lushintin$ that he was the o)*e"t of Alexanders lo'e as Patro"lus was of A"hilles.

Book 92.9=

+hey say that a!on$ the


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defeated )y the 3o!an Paulus was )orn in Ar$os the son of an undistin$uished !an.

u!enes is thou$ht to ha'e )een the "hild of a poor father who played !usi" at funerals.

Anti$onus the son of Philip who had one eye and "onseuently was known as ,y"lops

was a peasant. Polysper"hon was a )andit. +he!isto"les who defeated the )ar)arians at

sea and was the only !an to understand the !essa$es of the $ods in ora"les was the son

of a +hra"ian sla'e wo!an and his !other was "alled Ha)rotonon. Pho"ion ni"kna!edthe


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+he +he)ans were sure the $ods threatened the &a"edonians. In the "ity at the te!ple of

1e!eter a spider )e$an to "o'er the fa"e of the "ult statue with its handiwork and wea'e

its usual produ"t. +he statue of Athena known as Alal"o!eneis "au$ht fire

spontaneously thou$h no li$ht was set to it/ and !u"h else.

Book 92.5G

1ioxippus the Athenian athlete 'i"torious at Cly!pia was dri'in$ into Athens as the

athletes used to. A "rowd "olle"ted fro! all dire"tions and wat"hed hi! intently. In it

was a wo!an of $reat )eauty who "a!e to en*oy the spe"ta"le. Cn seein$ her 1ioxippus

was i!!ediately stru"k )y her )eauty/ he "ould not keep his eyes off her turnin$ to look

at her and "han$in$ "olour so that !any people reali>ed he was not $a>in$ idly at the

wo!an. ;irst to dete"t his feelin$s was 1io$enes of %inope who said to his nei$h)ours/

6ook at your $reat athlete held in the $rip of a little $irl.8

Book 92.?F

1ionysius II and Philip son of A!yntas !et one day. Eaturally there was a lon$ and

flowin$ "on'ersation and it in"luded the followin$ ex"han$e. Philip asked 1ionysiushow it was that ha'in$ inherited su"h a powerful state fro! his father he had not

!aintained it. +he other replied not without point0 6&y father left !e e'erythin$ else

)ut not the lu"k )y whi"h he o)tained those possessions and kept the!.8

Book 92.?=

Alexander son of Philip and Cly!pias lay dead in Ba)ylon the !an who said he was

the son of Zeus. hile his followers ar$ued a)out the su""ession he lay waitin$ for

)urial whi"h e'en the 'ery poor a"hie'e sin"e the nature "o!!on to all !ankind

reuires a funeral for those no lon$er li'in$. But he was left un)uried for thirty days

until Aristander of +el!issus whether )y di'ine inspiration or for so!e other reason

entered the &a"edonian asse!)ly and said that of all kin$s in re"orded historyAlexander was the !ost fortunate )oth in his life and in his death/ the $ods had told

hi! that the land whi"h re"ei'ed his )ody the earlier ha)itation of his soul would en*oy

the $reatest $ood fortune and )e un"onuered throu$h the a$es.

Cn hearin$ this they )e$an to uarrel seriously ea"h !an wishin$ to "arry off the pri>e

to his own kin$do! so as to ha'e a reli" $uaranteein$ safety and per!anen"e for his

real!. But Ptole!y if we are to )elie'e the story stole the )ody and hurriedly !ade off

with it to Alexandria in $ypt. +he other &a"edonians did nothin$ whereas Perdi""as

tried to $i'e "hase. He was no so !u"h interested in "onsideration for Alexander and due

respe"t for his )ody as fired and in"ited )y Artistanders predi"tion. hen he "au$ht up

with Ptole!y there was uite a 'iolent stru$$le o'er the "orpses in so!e ways akin to

the one o'er the phanto! at +roy whi"h Ho!er (Iliad 5.==:# "ele)rates in his talewhere Apollo puts it down a!on$ the heroes to prote"t Aeneas. Ptole!y "he"ked

Perdi""as atta"k. He !ade a likeness of Alexander "lad in royal ro)es and a shroud of

en'ia)le uality. +hen he laid it on one of the Persian "arria$es and arran$ed the )ier

su!ptuously with sil'er $old and i'ory. Alexanders real )ody was sent ahead without

fuss and for!ality )y a se"ret and little used route. Perdi""as found the i!itation "orpse

with the ela)orate "arria$e and halted his ad'an"e thinkin$ he had laid hands on the

pri>e. +oo late he reali>ed he had )een de"ei'ed/ it was not possi)le to $o in pursuit.

Book 94.@

hen Alexander "aptured +he)es he sold into sla'ery all free "iti>ens ex"ept priests. He

also exe!pted fro! sale his fathers hosts Philip as a )oy had )een a hosta$e there and released their relati'es. He paid honour to the des"endants of Pindar and allowed


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his house alone to stand. He exe"uted a)out ?FFF +he)ans and 4FFFF were taken

prisoner.

Book 94.99

A story has rea"hed !e a""ordin$ to whi"h Iso"rates the orator was the "ause of the

ensla'e!ent whi"h the Persians suffered at the hands of the &a"edonians. +hePane$yri"us whi"h he deli'ered )efore the


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Book 9=.=?"

....

Book 9=.=@a

Alexander son of Philip is said to ha'e )een 'ery *ealous of his friends and en'ious of

the! all thou$h not for identi"al reasons. He disliked Perdi""as for )ein$ a )orn soldierysi!a"hus )e"ause he had a $ood reputation as a $eneral and %eleu"us for his )ra'ery.

Anti$onus a!)ition pained hi! he disliked Antipaters uality of leadership was

suspi"ious of Ptole!ys adroitness and feared Atarrius insu)ordination not to !ention

Pithons re'olutionary instin"t.

Book 9=.=G

Eote that Philip took the sons of leadin$ &a"edonian fa!ilies into his personal ser'i"e

not intendin$ (so they say# to insult or de!ean the! )ut on the "ontrary trainin$ the!

to )e fit and ensurin$ that they would )e ready for a"tion. He took a hostile 'iew (they

say# of any who were self-indul$ent and sla"k in o)eyin$ orders. %o he whipped

Aphthonetus for )reakin$ ranks lea'in$ the road )e"ause he was thirsty and enterin$an inn. And he exe"uted Ar"heda!us )e"ause when he personally ordered the !an to

stay in his ar!our he took it off. Ar"heda!us was una)le to resist thou$hts of $ain and

had hoped to win o'er the kin$ )y flattery and wheedlin$.

i)er de &orte

translated by Karl Soundy ([email protected])

,CE,3EIE< +H 1A+H AE1 +%+A&E+ C; AJAE13 +H


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t!e King !er portent and said s!e !ad gi+en birt! to it !erself.

[6] !en !e sa" it #le$ander "as seied "it! terror& at once !e ordered t!e !ouse!old

%agi and *!adaeans summoned. 9our came& 2!ippus (sic) "!o "as older t!an t!e ot!ers and

stood !ig!er in t!e King-s affections came at a more leisurely pace. ,!en #le$ander s!o"ed

t!e prodigy to t!ose "!o !ad arri+ed "!at ot!er t!an t!e t!reat of deat! could t!ey say its

meaning "as: ,!en t!ey replied t!at t!is "as a good omen for !im since t!e !uman body!ad been born abo+e t!ose of t!e "ild beasts 3ust as !e "as destined to !a+e under !is s"ay

all t!e "ild and barbarous nations. 5a+ing spo'en so t!ey left.

[;] uit man'ind.- ,!en as'ed to e$plain !imself !e

replied -O most mortal of men listen carefully to "!at 0 say. ,!is !uman part "!ic! you seeis you. ,!e images of beasts "!ic! you see are t!e "ild and barbarous people you rule.

!ic! !ad t!e !uman part been li+ing it "ould !a+e meant t!at you "ould gain po"er o+er

t!em& [?] and t!at t!e !uman part is attac'ed by t!ese 'inds of beasts so t!ose "!om you

!a+e about you are your enemies and s!ortly after your deat! "ill +ie "it! eac! ot!er for

dominion of t!e "orld-.

[] 5a+ing said t!is !e left ta'ing t!e prodigy "it! !im in order to burn it. ,!en #le$ander

spo'e -O AuppiterB- !e said -0f only 0 !ad been permitted to complete my endea+oursB /ut

seeing t!at you consider t!em done accept me as t!e t!ird mortal.- /y t!is !e meant it "ould

seem t!at 9at!er Liber !ad been t!e first to be accounted among t!e Cods t!e second "as

5ercules& !e said !e s!ould be t!e t!ird since !is deeds "ere no less t!an t!ose of t!ese Cods.#nd after t!at !e faced t!e future resolutely careless of life.

[D] %ean"!ile *assander t!e son of #ntipater came to /abylon and ga+e t!e King t!e gifts

!e !ad broug!t. ,!en !e met "it! 0ollas !is esteemed brot!er and lay before !im& t!eir

fat!er-s instructions Olympias- !atred t!e nature and arrogance of #le$ander and t!e peril

!anging o+er t!eir "!ole family& !a+ing !anded o+er t!e poison !e entreated !im to act as

s"iftly as possible [?]

[7] t!en #le$ander?E%ediusF told 0ollas t!at !e "ould see to it !imself. #s'ing !im to

organise a feast and to summon t!ose friends !e "is!ed [?]


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lay a"a'e all nig!t.

[411] ,!e ne$t day "!en !e found !is tongue s"ollen !e ordered e+eryone to lea+e !is room

so t!at !e mig!t reflect in solitude. /ut *assander once !e !ad deli+ered t!e poison set out

by nig!t to *ilicia. ,!ere to a"ait 0ollas& for !e !ad agreed to meet !im as soon as #le$ander

"as dead. ,!en !e "ould send one of !is men to !is fat!er in %acedonia to tell !o" t!e deed

"as done.

[414] /ut "!en nig!t !ad fallen #le$ander ordered G!o$ane !is "ife and t!e ot!er friends

bac' to t!eir c!ambers t!at !e mig!t more easily get to sleep. !en !e felt !imself alone !e

dragged !imself up and put out t!e lig!ts. ,!en creeping on all fours !e "ent out by t!e door

t!at lead to t!e Gi+er up!rates "!ic! flo"ed t!roug! t!e middle of t!e city and !e "ent

straig!t a!ead glancing about !im all t!e "!ile. Seeing !is "ife G!o$ane running up !e !eld

still !oping s!e "ould pass !im by.

[416] #nd "!en s!e came not finding !im in t!e bed and sa" t!e open door s!e !eard a

piteous groan and follo"ed after !im seeing #le$ander continually falling to t!e ground s!e

gat!ered !im up in an embrace full of pity. 9or !is part !e t!re" !imself upon !er and said

forcefully -O G!o$ane my last 3oy !as been cast a"ay by you 0 s!ould !a+e been grantedimmortality. /ut ta'e care you say not!ing of t!is.- ,!at said s!e !elped !im bac' to !is

c!amber.

[41;] !en t!e sun !ad risen !e ordered 2erdiccas 5olcias Lysimac!us and 2tolemy to be

summoned and !e ordered t!em to allo" none to enter to see !im until !e !ad done "!at !e

"is!ed to. ,!ey left. 5e retained 5ermogenes and *ombap!us young boys t!e one to ta'e

do"n !is ill t!e ot!er to loo' after t!e lig!ts. ,!at day and nig!t !e spent "riting !is ill.

[41=] %ean"!ile in t!e army indiscipline and mutiny raised t!eir !eads t!reatening t!ose

about t!e King "it! deat! unless t!ey s!o"ed t!em #le$ander-s body for t!ey "ere belie+ed

to !a+e made a"ay "it! !im. #nd a great t!rong rus!ed to t!e 'ing amid t!e tumult. !en

#le$ander !eard t!e ro" !e "as puled as to "!at it "as. ,!en 2erdiccas told !im of t!e%acedonians- suspicions and t!eir onset. #le$ander ordered !imself to be ta'en up and put in

a !ig! place "!ere t!e cro"d could be admitted by one door and lea+e by anot!er.

[41] 5undreds of soldiers came !ere and "ent in one by one "eeping and greeting !im and

t!en lea+ing by t!e ot!er door. 5e greeted t!em all silently "it! a "a+e or a nod for !e "as

+ery close to deat! and could no longer spea'. #mong t!ese t!ere "as a certain 2eucolaus a

man of !umble birt! "!o stood before !im crying and said -O #le$ander your fat!er "as a

most efficacious King of %acedonia "!o upon !is deat! [?] "as s!o"ered "it! praise and

claimed to be t!e e>ual of t!e Cods in glory.


14/21

to"n and lea+e in your !ands my future plans "!ic! can be seen in my ill a copy of "!ic!

"e are sending to you.

[418] e !a+e decided to gi+e to t!ose "!ose merit and ran' demand it t!ose po"ers and

goods "!ic! "e !ereby be>ueat! and e+eryt!ing already "ritten so t!at from t!e Goyal

,reasury "e order t!ose "!o s!all be in c!arge t!ereof to gi+e you for t!e beautification ofyour city t!ree !undred talents of gold coin and eac! year forty t!ousand medimni of

t!res!ed corn and forty "ars!ips. #lso "e !a+e "ritten t!at our body is to be ta'en to gypt

and t!ere t!e priests s!all ta'e care of its burial. 0t is t!us fitting to your aut!ority and +irtue to

see t!at t!is is done and our "is!es carried out. 9are"ell.-

[41] !en t!is !ad been "ritten in a letter !e ordered !is ill to be read bac' to !im.

5a+ing sealed it !e ga+e it to 5olcias and by many signs ordered !im to find someone loyal

"!o mig!t at once ta'e t!e letter and a copy of t!e "ill to G!odes. 5olcias broug!t in a

certain ,!eban called 0smenias and ga+e t!e letter to !im and t!e King s!o"ed t!e ,!eban

t!at !e mig!t ta'e t!e ill. #nd after t!e "ay of !is country !e gladly too' t!e letter carefully

and s"iftly to G!odes.

[441] /ut #le$ander impro+ed due to !is "ife G!o$ane applying a poultice to !is midriff

and soot!ing !is pain t!us e$tending !is life by fi+e days. ,!en "!en again !e "anted a

drin' of "ater t!e cup tainted "it! poison "as gi+en to !im by 0ollas. !en !e drained t!is

!e cried out "it! rene"ed pain t!en turned around and spo'e despairingly to !is friends& -So

t!at "!en 0 am dead my "is!es may be follo"ed 0 !a+e "ritten a ill.


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spo'e t!us& -Kno" ye O %acedonians t!at #le$ander your 'ing !as gone to 3oin t!e Cods.

Hou s!ould t!erefore come toget!er and spea' of good t!ings esc!e"ing profanity.- ,!en

t!e !erald !a+ing once more establis!ed silence !e ordered t!e "ill to be read by 5olcias. 0t

ran t!us&

[44] -King #le$ander son of #mmon and Olympias ma'es t!is ill. 0f my "ife G!o$anebears a son !e is to be t!e most po"erful King of t!e %acedonians& until suc! time

#rr!idaeus son of 2!ilip is to be t!e commander of t!e %acedonians& s!ould a daug!ter be

born to my "ife G!o$ane s!e is to be broug!t up and t!e assembled %acedonians s!all

c!oose one of t!eir number "ort!y of my dignity and t!eir trust "!o s!all be !er consort and

!e "!om t!ey c!oose s!all be King of %acedonia.

[44D] -9or Olympias my mot!er let G!odes be !er !ome or any ot!er place s!e s!ould "is!

and eac! year t!e King of %acedonia s!ould see to it t!at s!e "!o ga+e me life !as

e+eryt!ing s!e needs. ,o Leonnatus 0 gi+e t!e 5ellespontine Satrapy and 5olcias- sister

*leonice as a "ife. Of *appadocia and 2ap!lagonia 0 ma'e umenes t!e go+ernor !e "!o

"as my secretary. 0 order all t!e islands to be free& let t!em possess "!at t!ey used to possessand li+e according to t!eir o"n la"s.

[447] -Of 2amp!ylia Lycia and Creater 2!rygia 0 ma'e #ntigonos go+ernor. Of *aria 0 order

#sander to be t!e leader. #nd t!e territory "!ic! lies beyond t!e Gi+er "!ic! t!ey call 5alys

in t!ese lands 0 gi+e #ntipater dominion. 0 ma'e


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t!e 5ydaspes and 0ndus let 2orus be t!e ruler t!ere. Of t!e 2arapanisdae 0 ma'e O$yartes

t!e fat!er of my "ife G!o$ane t!e go+ernor. Of #rac!osia and Cedrosia Sibyrtius is to be

t!e ruler. 0 gi+e t!e rule of #ria and Irangaria to Stasanor of Soli. -Let 2!ilip rule /actria.

2art!yaea and 5yrcania "!ic! ad3oins it 0 gi+e to 2!ratap!ernes& *armania to ,lepolemus.

2eucestes is to rule all 2ersia. O$ydates is to be banis!ed from all !is lands and *raterus is to

rule in !is stead. #rgaeus is similarly to lose Susia & *oenus is to succeed !im.

[466] -,!e go+ernors!ip of t!e 0llyrians 0 gi+e to 5olcias and fi+e !undred pac' !orses and

t!ree t!ousand talents of sil+er coin. 9rom "!ic! funds 5olcias is to ma'e statues of

#le$ander #mmon %iner+a 5ercules Olympias and of 2!ilip my fat!er and erect t!em in

t!e ,emple at Olympia. #ll t!e go+ernors 0 !a+e created are to send Cilt statues of #le$ander

to Ielp!i #t!ens?[5iolce]?2tolemy is to erect gilt statues in gypt of #le$ander #mmon

%iner+a 5ercules Olympias and my fat!er 2!ilip.

[46;] -#ll t!is is "itnessed by Olympian Ao+e 5ercules our ancestor %iner+a %ars

#mmon Sol and t!e Cood 9ortune of #le$ander. 0f anyt!ing is done by anyone contrary to

t!e pro+isions of my ill may Ao+e and t!e Cods of Olympus bear "itness t!at not!ing maybe done "it! impunity let t!em be damned in t!e eyes of men and Cods as impious and oat!

brea'ers.-

Athenaeus - 1eipnosophists BCC III

0ntro-0-00-000-0J-J-J0-J00-J000-0--0-00-000a-000b-0J-J

Book III. @4 ) - d

2!ylarc!us says M


17/21

Book III :4 " d

#nd *!ares of %itylene says in t!e se+ent! part of !is ,ales of #le$ander M# creature

similar to t!e oyster is caug!t in t!e 0ndian Sea li'e"ise also in t!e "aters ad3acent to

#rmenia 2ersia Susa and /abylon& it is of considerable sie and oblong and contains "it!in

it a fles! "!ic! is plump and "!ite and +ery fragrant. 9rom it t!ey e$tract "!ite bones "!ic!

t!ey call pearls from "!ic! t!ey ma'e nec'laces bracelets and an'lets. ,!e 2ersians%edes and in fact all #siatics +alue t!em far more t!an articles made of gold.

Book III. :G d e

Spea'ing of t!e same Iionysius #t!anis in t!e first boo' of !is Sicilian 5istory says t!at !e

called t!e o$ Meart!earer and t!e pig iacc!os. Li'e !im also "as #le$arc!us (brot!er of

*assander once 'ing of %acedonia) t!e found of t!e city named Pranopolis. *oncerning !im

5eracleides Lembus in t!e t!irtyse+ent! boo' of !is 5istories narrates t!e follo"ing

Q#le$arc!us founder of Pranopolis introduced peculiar e$pressions calling t!e coc' Mda"n

crierN t!e barber Mmortals!a+erN t!e drac!ma Ma sil+er bitN t!e >uartmeasure Mdaily

feederN t!e !erald Mloud ba"ler.N #nd on one occasion !e sent t!is strange message to t!e

aut!orities of *assandreaiaR Q#le$arc!us to t!e 2rimipiles of /rot!ers ,o"n 3oy Our sun

fles!ed yeans 0 "ot and dams t!ereof "!ic! guard t!e braes "!ereon t!ey "ere born !a+e

been +isited by t!e fateful dome of t!e gods in mig!t fres!eting t!em !ence from t!e

forsa'en fields.N !at t!is letter means 0 fancy not e+en t!e god of Ielp!i could ma'e out.

* Named after his brother, Cassander.

Book III. 9FF e f

Lynceus of Samos intimate friend of ,!eop!rastus also 'no"s of t!e use of t!e paunc! "it!

silp!ium e$tract. #t any rate in !is description of 2tolemys symposium !is "ords are Q#

paunc! "as passed round ser+ed in +inegar and silp!ium 3uice. ,!is 3uice is mentioned by

#ntip!anes in Pn!appy Lo+ers spea'ing of *yrene Q0 "ill not sail bac' to t!e place from

"!ic! "e "ere carried a"ay for 0 "ant to say goodbye to all !orses silp!ium c!ariots

silp!ium stal's steeplec!asers silp!ium lea+es fe+ers and silp!ium 3uice.

Book III. 9F9 e - f

Lynceus !o"e+er in !is description of t!e dinner gi+en by t!e flutegirl Lamia in !onour of

Iemetrius 2oliorcetes represents t!e guests as eating all sorts of fis! and fles! t!e moment

t!ey entered t!e dining room. Similarly in describing t!e arrangements for King #ntigonuss

dinner "!en !e celebrated t!e festi+al of #p!rodite as "ell as t!e dinner gi+en by King

2tolemy !e says t!at fis! and meat "ere ser+ed first.

Book III. 9F5 e

,!at artificer of fancy dis!es #rc!estratus gi+es t!is ad+ice M0f e+er you go to 0ssus city of

t!e *arians you "ill get a goodsied s!rimp. /ut it is rare in t!e mar'et "!ereas in

%acedonia and #mbracia t!ere are plenty.N

Book III. 92F d - e

*ro"ding all t!e drin's at t!e beginning is a practice to be a+oided for t!ey render it !ard to

absorb any additional moisture. /ut t!e %acedonians as p!ippusR of Olynt!us obser+es in

!is account of t!e funeral of #le$ander and 5ep!aestion ne+er understood !o" to drin' in

moderation but rat!er dran' deep at t!e beginning of t!e feast. 5ence t!ey "ere drun' "!ile

t!e first courses "ere still being ser+ed and could not en3oy t!eir food.

* Ephippus of Olynthus, one of Alexander the Greats officers, author of a wor on the funeral

of Alexander and !ephaestion "last half of the fourth century #.C.$

Book III. 92= "+en t!e e$cellent enop!on in t!e %emorabilia 'no"s of t!e use of sno" in drin'ing and


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*!ares of %itylene "!en !e recounts t!e siege of t!e 0ndian capital 2etra. 5e says t!at

#le$ander dug t!irty refrigerating pits "!ic! !e filled "it! sno" and co+ered "it! oa'

boug!s. 0n t!is "ay !e says sno" "ill last a long time.

,op

Book IV. 92G " 949 e0n %acedonia as 0 !a+e already said *aranus celebrated !is marriage "it! a ban>uet at "!ic!

t!e number of men in+ited to gat!er "as t"enty& no sooner !ad t!ey ta'en t!eir places on t!e

couc!es t!an t!ey "ere presented "it! sil+er cups one eac! to 'eep as t!eir o"n. ac! guest

also !ad been cro"ned before !e entered "it! a gold tiara "ort! e+ery one of t!em fi+e

gold staters. #nd after t!ey !ad emptied t!eir cups t!ey "ere eac! gi+en a brone platter of

*orint!ian manufacture containing a loaf as "ide as t!e platter& also c!ic'ens and duc's and

ringdo+es too and a goose and an abundance of suc!li'e +iands piled !ig!& and eac! guest

too' !is portion platter and all and distributed it among t!e sla+es "!o stood be!ind !im.

%any ot!er t!ings to eat "ere !anded round in great +ariety follo"ing "!ic! came a second

platter of sil+er on "!ic! again lay a !uge loaf and geese !ares young goats and curiously

moulded ca'es besides pigeons turtledo+es partridges and ot!er fo"l in plenty. M,!isalsoN !e saysR M"e presented to t!e sla+es in addition and "!en "e !ad !ad enoug! of food

"e "as!ed our !ands. ,!en numerous c!aplets "ere broug!t in made of all 'inds of flo"ers

and in addition to t!em all "ere gold tiaras e>ual in "eig!t to t!e first c!aplet.N

On top of t!ese +iands 5ippoloc!us says t!at 2roteas descendant of t!at 2roteas "!o "as t!e

son of Lanice t!e same "!o !ad been t!e nurse of King #le$ander dran' a great deal (for

!e "as gi+en to drin'ing li'e !is grandfat!er 2roteas #le$anders comrade) and toasted

e+erybody. 5ippoloc!us t!en continues "it! t!e follo"ing& M!en "e !ad at last pleasantly

ta'en lea+e of all sobriety t!ere entered flutegirls and singers and some G!odian sambuca

players. ,o me t!ese girls loo'ed >uite na'ed but some said t!at t!ey !ad on tunics. #nd after

a prelude t!ey "it!dre". ,!en came in ot!er girls carrying eac! t"o 3ars fastened toget!er

"it! a gold band and containing perfume& one 3ar "as sil+er t!e ot!er gold and !eld !alf a

pint. ,!ese also t!ey ga+e to eac! guest. #fter dinner namely a sil+er platter gilded all o+er to

no little t!ic'ness and large enoug! to !old t!e "!ole of a roast pig a big one too "!ic!

lay on its bac' upon it& t!e belly seen from abo+e disclosed t!at it "as full of many bounties.

9or roasted inside it "ere t!rus!es duc's and "arblers in unlimited number pease puree

poured o+er eggs oysters and scallops& all of "!ic! to"ering !ig! "as presented to eac!

guest platters and all. #fter t!is "e dran' and t!en recei+ed a 'id piping !ot again upon

anot!er platter as large as t!e last "it! spoons of gold. Seeing t!erefore our embarrassment

*aranus ordered bas'ets and breadrac's made of plaited i+ory strips to be gi+en us at "!ic!

"e applauded t!e bridegroom "it! delig!t for !a+ing rescued our gifts. ,!en more cro"ns

again and a double3ar of gold and sil+er containing perfume e>ual in "eig!t to t!e first.Tuiet being restored t!ere trooped in men "!o "ould !a+e graced e+en t!e religious

obser+ances at t!e #t!enian 9east of 2ots. #fter t!em entered it!yp!allic dancers clo"ns and

some na'ed female 3ugglers "!o performed tumbling acts among s"ords and ble" fire from

t!eir mout!s. #fter "e !ad finis!ed "it! t!em our attention "as ne$t engrossed in a "arm

and almost neat drin' t!e "ines at our disposal being ,!asian %endaean and Lesbian& and

+ery large gold cups "ere !anded to eac! guest. #fter t!is draug!t "e "ere all presented "it!

a crystal platter about t"o cubits in diameter lying in a sil+er receptacle and full of a

collection of all 'inds of ba'ed fis!& also a sli+er breadrac' containing *appadocian loa+es

of "!ic! "e ate some and ga+e t!e rest to t!e sla+es. ,!en "e "as!ed our !ands and put on

cro"ns again recei+ing gold tiaras t"ice t!e sie of t!ose "e !ad before and anot!er double

3ar of perfume.!en all "as >uiet 2roteas 3umped up from !is couc! and demanded a si$pint bo"l and


19/21

filling it "it! ,!asian "ine "it! 3ust a das! of "ater !e dran' it all saying Q5e t!at drin's

most s!all !a+e least sorro". #nd *aranus said QSince you !a+e been t!e first to drin' be t!e

first also to recei+e t!e bo"l as a gift& and t!is s!all be t!e meed of all t!e ot!ers "!o drin'.

#t t!ese "ords Qall of t!e nine rose up and seied a bo"l eac! stri+ing to get a!ead of t!e

ot!er. /ut one unfortunate "!o of all our companions "as unable to drin' sat up and "ept at

!is bo"less state until *aranus made !im a present of t!e cup unfilled. #fter t!is a c!orus ofone !undred men entered singing tunefully a "edding !ymn& t!en came in dancing girls some

attired as uare platters

rimmed "it! gold& t!ey "ere s'e"ered "it! sil+er spears. ,!e "onderful t!ing about it "as

t!at t!oug! rela$ed and !ea+y "it! "ine as soon as "e sa" any of t!ese t!ings introduced "e

all became sober enoug! to stand on our feet as t!e saying is.

ell t!e sla+es began to stuff our !appy bas'ets full until t!e customary signal for

concluding t!e ban>uet "as sounded on t!e trumpet& for t!is as you 'no" is t!e %acedonian

practice at dinners attended by many guests. ,!en *aranus leading off t!e drin'ing in small

cups ordered t!e sla+es to circulate t!em >uic'ly. e t!erefore sipped t!em gently as an

antidote to t!e drin'ing of unmi$ed "ine "!ic! !ad gone before. %ean"!ile t!e clo"n

%androgenes !ad come in a descendant so t!ey say of t!e celebrated #t!enian clo"n

Straton. 5e caused many a loud laug! among us by !is 3o'es and after"ards danced "it! !is

"ife "!o "as o+er eig!ty years old. #nd last t!ere came in t!e concluding courses& t!at is

dessert in i+ory bas'ets and flat ca'es of e+ery +ariety *retan and your o"n Samian friend

Lynceus and #ttic "ere gi+en to all as a present along "it! t!e bo$es in "!ic! t!ey "ere

separately pac'ed. So after t!is "e arose and too' our lea+e >uite sober t!e gods be my"itnessB because "e "ere appre!ensi+e for t!e safety of t!e "ealt! "e too' "it! us. /ut

you staying in #t!ens t!in' it !appiness rat!er to listen to t!e precepts of ,!eop!rastus

eating "ild t!yme and roc'etseed and your esteemed rolls "!ile you attend t!e festi+als of

t!e Lenaea and t!e 2otsB e !o"e+er !a+e carried a"ay a fortune from *aranuss ban>uet

instead of trifling portions and are no" loo'ing for !ouses or lands or sla+es to buy.N

* %he nuptials of Caranus the &acedonian, as described by !ippolochus, of &acedon,

historian "ca. '(( #.C.$

Book IV. 9=? " - d

#le$ander t!e Creat e+ery time !e dined "it! !is friends according to p!ippus of Olynt!us

in t!e boo' "!ic! describes t!e demise of #le$ander and 5ep!aestion spent one !undredminas (44U6 talents) t!ere being per!aps si$ty or se+enty friends at dinner. /ut t!e 2ersian

'ing as *tesias and Iionon (in !is 2ersian 5istory) say used to dine in company "it! 4111

men and four !undred talents "ere e$pended on t!e dinner. ,!is amounts in t!e coinage of

0tlay to 6=11111 denarii "!ic! di+ided among 4111 men ma'e 4D1 denarii 0talic

currency for eac! man. *onse>uently it comes to t!e same sum as t!at spent by #le$ander

"!ic! "as one !undred minas as p!ippus related.

Book IV. 9=G d - f

Jie"ing all t!is "!ic! surpasses "!at "e !a+e "e may "ell admire Cree' po+erty !a+ing

also before our eyes t!e dinners of t!e ,!ebans an account of "!ic! is gi+en by *leitarc!us

in t!e first boo' of !is 5istory of #le$ander. 5e says t!at Mafter t!e demolition of t!eir city by

#le$ander t!eir entire "ealt! "as found to be under ==1 talents& !e furt!er says t!at t!ey"ere meanspirited and stingy "!ere food "as concerned preparing for t!eir meals


20/21

mincemeat in lea+es and boiled +egetables anc!o+ies and ot!er small fis! sausages beef

ribs and peaseporridge. it! t!ese #ttaginus t!e son of 2!rynon entertained %ardonius

toget!er "it! fifty ot!er 2ersians and 5erodotus says in t!e nint! boo' t!at #ttaginus "as

"ell supplied "it! ric!es. 0 belie+e t!at t!ey could not !a+e "on t!e battle and t!at t!e

Cree's need not !a+e met t!em in battlearray at 2lataeae seeing t!at t!ey already !ad been

done to deat! by suc! food.Book IV. 955 a

#nd Iiyllus of #t!ens in t!e nint! boo' of !is 5istories says t!at "!en *assander returned

from /oetia and !eld t!e funeral of t!e 'ing and >ueen at #egaeae as "ell as of *ynna t!e

mot!er of urydice !e not only !onored t!em "it! all t!e ot!er fitting rites but set up also a

contest of single fig!ters "!ic! "as entered by four of !is soldiers.

uiring or gi+ing. 9or as a soldier !e !ad

not time to count up re+enues and e$penditures. #dd to t!is also t!at !is companions "eremen "!o !ad rus!ed to !is side from +ery many >uarters& some "ere from t!e land to "!ic!

!e !imself belonged ot!ers "ere from ,!essaly still ot!ers "ere from all t!e rest of Creece

selected not for t!eir supreme merit& on t!e contrary nearly e+ery man in t!e Cree' or

barbarian "orld of a lec!erous loat!some or ruffianly c!aracter floc'ed to %acedonia and

"on t!e title of Mcompanions of 2!ilip.N #nd e+en supposing t!at one of t!em "as not of t!is

sort "!en !e came !e soon became li'e all t!e rest under t!e influence of t!e %acedonian

life and !abits. 0t "as partly t!e "ars and campaigns partly also t!e e$tra+agances of li+ing

t!at incited t!em to be ruffians and li+e not in a la"abiding spirit but prodigally and li'e

!ig!"aymen.

Iuris in t!e se+ent! boo' of !is %acedonian 5istory spea'ing of 2asicyprus 'ing of*yprus and !is prodigality "rites t!e follo"ing Q#fter t!e siege of ,yre #le$ander in


21/21

dismissing 2nytagoras ga+e !im among ot!er presents a fortress "!ic! !e !imself !ad as'ed

for. ,!is fortress t!e reigning 'ing 2asicyprus !ad before t!is been compelled by !is

e$tra+agance to sell for fifty talents to 2ygmalion of *itium& along "it! t!e fortress "ent !is

'ingdom too. 2asicyprus too' t!e money and passed !is old age in #mat!us. Book IV. 9@9 )

- "

,!ose "!o gi+e t!e summons to come to t!e 'ings table as 2amp!ilus says are called MtablemenN from eleon "!ic! means Mmeattable.N /ut #rtemidorus names t!em Mdinner

summoners.N 5e furt!er says t!at t!ey used to call t!e foretasters MeatersN because t!ey ate

before t!e 'ing to ensure !is safety. /ut in our day t!e MeaterN !as become t!e superintendent

of t!e entire ser+ice& !is office "as distinguis!ed and !onorable. *!ares at any rate in t!e

t!ird boo' of !is 5istories says t!at 2tolemy Soter "as appointed MeaterN for #le$ander.

Book IV. 9G= )

Hou indeed are not a"are t!at %enecles t!e !istorian of /arca and again #ndron of

#le$andria in !is *!ronicles record t!at t!e #le$andrians "ere t!e teac!ers of all Cree's

and barbarians at a time "!en t!e entire system of general education !ad bro'en do"n by

reason of t!e continually recurring disturbances "!ic! too' place in t!e period of #le$anders

successors.

Documents

Aelian - Varia Historia.rtf