Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

408 CAPTURE OF PERSEPOLIS.was cut to pieces at close quarters ; many in their escapethrew themselves headlong down the precipices. " A greatmany fell on both sides," says Curtius. Ariobarzanes forcedhis way through to the rear with a small body-guard, or, asCurtius states, forty horse and five thousand foot, but foundhimself cut off from Persepolis by Philotas, who had crossedat the bridge.Not waiting a moment for rest, lest the treasury of Persepolisshould be plundered, as he had heard was the intentionin case of reverse, and leaving Craterus to follow, Alexandermarched with his Companions to the bridge, the completionof which was due to his brilliant forethought, forty miles inone night, over thesnow, crossed the Araxes, and by hurryingahead with these wonderful squadrons anticipated Ariobarzanes,who had escaped along the usual turnpike by wayof Shiraz, and reached Persepolis before any damage had beendone.For Tiridates had joined Pliilotas in preventing Ariobarzanesfrom pillage, hoping to earn Alexander's good will.Ariobarzanes was slain in his efforts to resist. For this serviceTiridates was made viceroy of Susa.Here and at Passargadse Alexander found over one hundredand fifty million dollars of our money, plus other treasures infabulous amount.Nothing like it has been known except tothe Spaniards in America. The bulk of the treasure he depositedfor the nonce at Susa. This wealth was later sent toEcbatana, whither it was said to have been conveyed by tenthousand two-mule carts and five thousand camels.As he approached Persis there came to meet him eighthundred (Curtiussays four thousand) mutilated Greek captives,— mutilation has always been common in the East as apenal infliction, — who greatly excited his ire and sjnmpathy.These men he pensioned off by giving them lands with slavesto cultivate them, in a colony by themselves.To each one he