Introduction

Alexander the Great in Afghanistan: A Reconstruction of Cleitarchus

The most influential account of the career of Alexander the Great was penned by Cleitarchus in the decades after Alexander’s death. Most of the surviving ancient texts on Alexander were based upon his work, but every copy of the original was destroyed in antiquity. Now the entire book is being revived in an exciting reconstruction based upon an in-depth analysis of the surviving ancient works that it inspired. This volume presents the section dealing with Alexander’s campaigns in Afghanistan. It became a blood-soaked slog against unrelenting opponents who adopted the same guerrilla resistance as is seen there today. Alexander was also beset by internal dissension with treason and plot within his own camp. How he coped with these dual challenges, through ruthless force in combination with conciliatory gestures, still offers useful lessons in strategy. Alexander was uniquely successful in establishing the region’s rule by Greek kings for the next few centuries. A date for Alexander’s accession is also proposed.

1.

Introduction

1

2.

The Reconstruction Of Books Seven To Nine

Introduction; Alexander’s Emulation of Cyrus and the Persianising; Geographical Errors; The Visit of the Queen of the Amazons; Prophthasia; The Culpability of Philotas and Parmenion; The Condemnation of the Branchidae; The Killing of Cleitus; The Culpability and Fates of Callisthenes and the Pages; The Marriage to Roxane; Fragments of Cleitarchus from Books Seven to Nine

5

3.

Book 7: July 330BC – June 329BC

The Advance to Hecatompylus; Description of Hyrcania and the Caspian Sea; Surrender of Artabazus & the Greek Mercenaries; Theft of Bucephalus; Surrender of Nabarzanes; Visit of the Amazon Queen; Adoption of Persian Dress; Revolt of Satibarzanes; The Philotas Affair; Assassination of Parmenion; The Euergetae; First Crossing of the Paropamisus Range

39

4.

Book 8: July 329BC – Autumn 328BC

Alexander’s Advance to the River Oxus; Bessus Betrayed to Alexander; The Fate of the Branchidae; Alexander Wounded near Maracanda; The Revolt of Spitamenes; Alexander’s Advance to the River Tanais; Annihilation of a Macedonian Column by Spitamenes and Alexander’s Counterattacks; Capture of the Rock of Ariamazes

87

5.

Book 9: Autumn 328BC – May 327BC

The Hunt in Basista; The Killing of Cleitus; The Treaty with Sisimithres; The Decapitation of Spitamenes; The Proskynesis Experiment; The Conspiracy of the Pages; The Army Caught in a Blizzard; The Marriage to Roxane

117

6.

Alexander’s Route Through Afghanistan

144

7.

Organisation And Sources

149

8.

An Update On The Organisation And Structure Of Cleitarchus And The Date Of Accession Of Alexander the Great

157

9.

Bibliography

186

10.

Acknowledgements

193

Index

194

Figure 2.1. Persian Dress (sketch by the author)

Figure 9.3. Alexander consoled by the philosophers after killing Cleitus

Introduction

Alexander the Great in India: A Reconstruction of Cleitarchus

The most influential account of the career of Alexander the Great was penned by Cleitarchus the son of Deinon, a Greek writing in Alexandria in the decades after Alexander’s death. Most of the surviving ancient texts on Alexander were more or less based upon his work, but every single copy of the original was discarded or destroyed in antiquity. To what extent might it be possible to reconstruct it from the secondary writings? This book argues that a considerable degree of reconstruction is feasible and demonstrates the point by presenting a full reconstruction of Cleitarchus’ version of Alexander’s campaigns in India, the first time that this has been done.