Aelian - Varia Historia

Book I.25
Alexander son of Philip (if anyone thinks he was the son of Zeus, it makes no difference
to me) added the formula of greeting to his letters, they say, only when writing to the
Athenian general Phocion. Such was the impression Phocion had made on the
Macedonian. But Alexander also gave him a hundred talents of silver, and named four
cities with the request that he should choose one of them according to his preference, in
order to be able to enjoy revenues from it. The cities were Cios, Elaea, Mylasa, and
Patara.This was generous and high-minded on Alexanders part; but Phocion was even
more high-minded, since he accepted neither the money nor the city. However, as it was
not his wish to show open contempt for Alexander, he honored him in the following way:
he asked Alexander to release for him the prisoners held in the citadel at Sardis.
Echecratides the sophist, Athenodoros of Imbros, Demaratus and Sparton these two
were brothers from Rhodes.
Book 2.3
Alexander looked at Apelles portrait of him in Ephesus and did not give it the praise
which its artistry deserved. When his horse was brought along it whinnied at the horse
in the picture as if it too were real, and Apelles said, Your majesty, the horse certainly
seems to have much better taste in art than you do.
Book 2.19
When Alexander had defeated Darius and taken over the Persian empire he was very
proud of his achievement. Feeling himself raised to the level of divinity by the good
fortune which had now overtaken him, he sent an introduction to the Greeks to vote him
divine honors. This was ridiculous; he could not acquire on demand from the rest of
mankind what nature had not endowed him with. The cities passed various decrees, and
the Spartans resolved as follows: Since Alexander wishes to be a god, let him be a god.
In laconic fashion and in accordance with their own tradition the Spartans deflated
Alexanders madness.
Book 2.25
They say that the sixth of Thargelion brought much good fortune not only to Athens but
to many other cities. It was for instance the date of Socrates birth; the Persians were
defeated on that day; on it the Athenians sacrifice to the goddess Agrotera three hundred
goats, acting in accordance with Miltiades vow. The sixth day at the beginning of the
month is also said to be the date of the battle of Plataea, when the Greeks were
victorious. The previous defeat of the Persians, which I have mentioned, was at
Artemisium. The Hellenic victory at Mycale is also accepted as having been the gift of
that day and no other, assuming that the victories of Plataea and Mycale were on the
same day. Alexander of Macedon, son of Philip, is also reported to have crushed the
many myriads of barbarians on the sixth of the month; that was when Alexander
defeated Darius And it is believed that Alexander himself was born and departed this life
on the same day.
Book 2.41
When Calanus the Brahmin, an Indian sage, set fire to himself, Alexander of Macedon
arranged a competition for music, horse racing and athletics. As a favour to the Indians
he included among the contests just mentioned one that was traditional among them, in
honour of Calanus. This was a drinking contest, and the prize for the winner was a

talent; the runner-up won thirty minae, and the third prize was ten. The person who
celebrated victory was Promachus.
Book 3.6
Crates of Thebes gave many proofs of his lofty spirit. In particular he had contempt for
what the masses admired, including money and ones native city. Everyone knows that
he turned his property over to the Thebans, but another fact about him is not generally
known. It is that he left Thebes after it had been rebuilt, saying I have no need of a city
which a second Alexander will raze to the ground.
Book 3.15
The Argives and Tirynthians were also ridiculed in comedy for their addiction to wine.
As to the Thracians, it is now a well-established commonplace that they are great
drinkers. The Illyrians do not escape the same criticism; but they have been accused of
something else in addition it is permissible at their dinners for each of the guests, if he
so wishes, to toast the women, even if the woman in question is no relation.
Book 3.17
I would also class as political the activity of Persaeus, who was tutor to Antigonus, and of
Aristotle, who clearly lived as a philosopher with the young Alexander son of Philip.
Lysis the disciple of Pythagoras was tutor to Epaminondas. So if anyone says that
philosophers are inactive, his comment is nave and stupid. I would grasp with alacrity
the leisure they enjoy and their love of tranquility.
Book 3.23
Alexanders achievements at the Granicus, at Issus, the battle of Arbela, the defeat of
Darius, Persia enslaved by Macedon were splendid. So too was the conquest of all the
rest of Asia, with the Indians also becoming subjects of Alexander. So again were his
exploits at Tyre and against the Oxydracae, and elsewhere. I do not need to describe
within a narrow compass such great military talent. Let most of it be put down to
Fortune who favoured Alexander, if one wishes to be captious. But Alexander was great
because he was not defeated by Fortune and did not give up in the ace of her persistent
attentions to him.
The following behaviour of Alexander was not good. On the fifth of the month of Dius he
was drinking with Eumaeus, they say; then on the sixth he slept because of the amount
he had drunk. During that day he was conscious only long enough to get up and discuss
with his generals the following days march, saying that it would start early. On the
seventh he banqueted with Perdiccas and drank again; on the eight he slept. On the
fifteenth of the same month he drank once more, and on the following day did what he
would normally do after a party. He had dinner on the twenty-seventh with Bagoas the
distance from the palace to Bagoas house was ten stades and on the twenty-eighth he
slept. One of two alternatives follows: either Alexander damaged himself with wine by
drinking so often within the month, or the authors of these stories are telling lies. From
them one can infer that such writers, who include Eumenes of Cardia (FGrH 117 F 2a),
tell similar tales on other occasions.
Book 3.29
Diogenes of Sinope regularly said of himself that he suffered and endured to the full the
curses of tragedy, for he was a wanderer without a home, deprived of his native land, a
beggar, ill-dressed, living from one day to the next. Yet he took no less pride in these
facts than Alexander in his rule over the world, at the time when he had captured India

and returned to Babylon.

Book 3.32
When he was a boy, not yet an adolescent, Alexander the son of Philip learned to play
the cithara. The teacher told him to touch a string in tune and in accordance with the
melody. What difference will it make if I touch that one? he asked, pointing to
another. The teacher replied that it made no difference to a man destined to be king; it
was otherwise for anyone who would practise the art of the cithara. But the man, not
being uneducated, was afraid that he might suffer the fate of Linus. Linus was teaching
the child Heracles the cithara, and when he handled the instrument clumsily, Linus was
annoyed with him. Heracles was angry, attacked Linus with his plectrum and killed him.
Book 3.45
They say Philip received an oracle in Boeotia at the shrine of Trophonius, to the effect
that he must be on his guard against a chariot. The tradition has it that he was in fear of
the oracle and never got up into his chariot. After this the story circulates in two
versions. Some say that the sword of Pausanias, with which he killed Philip, had a
chariot carved in ivory on the handle; the other version that he was assassinated after
walking around the lake at Thebes known as Harma . The first story is popular, the
second is not found everywhere.
Book 3.47
The good name which caused Phocion to be nicknamed the honest was of no
advantage, nor the seventy-five years he had lived without harming anyone in the least;
when he was found to have betrayed the Piraeus to Antipater, the Athenians condemned
him to death.
Book 4.5
Benefits were remembered, and thanks for them given, by Theseus to Heracles.
Aidoneus king of the Molossians put Theseus in chains when he came with Pirithous to
kidnap the kings wife. Theseus did not want to marry the woman himself but did this a
favour to Pirithous. Heracles came to the country of the Molossians and rescued
Theseus, in return for which the latter set up an altar to him.
Book 4.19
Philip of Macedon was said to be not merely a good soldier and powerful speaker but to
have the highest respect for education. He provided resources unstintingly for Aristotle
and so became responsible for any other facets of his wide learning, and in particular for
his knowledge of zoology. The son of Nicomachus produced his History of Animals as the
fruit of Philips wealth. He also honoured Plato and Theophrastus.
Book 4.29
I cannot persuade myself not to laugh at Alexander the son of Philip, if it is true that
when he heard there were an infinite number of worlds Democritus says this in his
writings he was pained at the thought of not even being the master of the one we all
know. Need one say how much Democritus would have laughed at him, laughter being
his stock-in-trade?
Book 5.6
It is right to praise the death of Calanus; one might even say, to marvel at it. This is how
it happened. Calanus the Indian sage said goodbye to Alexander, the Macedonians and
his life, wishing to free himself from the bonds of his body. The pyre was set up in the

finest suburb of Babylon. The wood was dry, carefully selected for its fragrance,
consisting of cedar, citron, cypress, myrtle, and laurel. Having taken his customary
exercise this was to run he mounted the middle of the pyre and stood there, his hair
covered with a crown of reeds. The sun shone down upon him, and he knelt in respect
for it. This was the cue for the Macedonians to light the pyre. When this was done the
flames took hold of him, but he stood there unflinching and did not fall over until he
expired. Then, they say, even Alexander was astounded and said that Calanus had
defeated more powerful enemies than he had himself. For Alexander had won his
struggles against Porus, Taxila, and Darius, but Calanus against pain and death.
Book 5.10
The Athenians always prepared their naval forces painstakingly. Over the years they
were sometimes successful, sometimes defeated. They lost two hundred triremes in
Egypt, crews and all, in Cyprus one hundred and fifty; in Sicily two hundred and forty;
and two thousand in the Hellespont. They lost forty thousand hoplites in Sicily, and one
thousand at Chaeronea.
Book 5.12
I cannot suppress a liking for this act of the Athenians. Demades addressed the Athenian
assembly and put forward a motion that Alexander be the thirteenth god. The public
found this an intolerable show of impiety and imposed a penalty of a hundred talents on
Demades because he had included Alexander, a mortal, among the Olympians.
Book 6.1
When Philip won the battle of Chaeronea he was buoyed up by his achievement, as were
all the Macedonians. The Greeks were very frightened of him, and their cities
surrendered individually; this was the decision of Thebes, Magara, Corinth, the
Achaeans, Elis, Euboea, and the whole of Acte. But Philip did not respect the agreements
he had made with them, and enslaved them all unjustly and illegally.
Book 7.8
When Hephaestion died Alexander threw armour on to his pyre, and melted down with
the corpse gold, silver, and clothing much prized by the Persians. He cut off his own hair,
a gesture in the Homeric manner, in imitation of the poets Achilles. But Alexander was
more violent and hotheaded than Achilles: he destroyed the acropolis at Ecbatana and
knocked down its walls. As far as his hair is concerned, I think he acted in accordance
with Greek custom; but when he pulled down the walls, that was a barbaric expression
of grief by Alexander. He changed his dress and allowed himself to be completely
controlled by anger, love, and tears.
Note that Hephaestion died at Ecbatana. A story circulates that these ceremonies, while
planned for Hephaestion, were carried out for Alexander on his death, because
mourning for the young man was not yet completed when death overtook Alexander.
Book 7.12
Children have to be deceived with knucklebones, men with oaths. Some attribute this
saying to Lysander, others to Philip of Macedon. Whoever it belongs to, it is wrong in my
opinion. Perhaps it is not surprising if my views differ from Lysanders. He was a tyrant,
and as to my views, it is obvious why the remark does not appeal to me.
Book 8.6
They say that among the ancient Thracians no one was literate. Indeed, all the
barbarians inhabiting Europe thought it shameful to write. But, as tradition has it, those

living in Asia were more inclined to do so. For this reason some people dare to maintain
that even Orpheus was uncultured because he was a Thracian, and that the myths about
him are idle falsehoods. This is stated by Androtion (FGrH 324 F 54 a). if he is a reliable
guide to the illiteracy and lack of culture among the Thracians.
Book 8.7
When Alexander captured Darius he celebrated his own marriage and that of his
friends. The number of people marrying was ninety, and the bridal chambers equal in
number. The hall for the reception and banquet had a hundred couches. Each couch had
silver feet, except his own, which had gold; they were all decorated with purple or
embroidered cloth, of a weave much prized among the barbarians. He took his personal
guests from foreign states to the banquet and had them seated facing him. In the
courtyard there was a feast for the other forces, the infantry, marines, and cavalry.
Ambassadors and Greeks resident locally were at the feast. Dinner was regulated by
trumpet calls; the signal for assembly was given when it was time to go in to dinner, and
the signal for retreat when he gave instructions to leave. For five days in succession he
celebrated the weddings. A great many artists and actors, of both tragedy and comedy,
arrived; there were also outstanding Indian conjurers, and they were thought to be
superior to the entertainers from elsewhere.
Book 8.12
Strange, is it not, but true. When Demosthenes lost his voice in Macedonia, Aeschines
son of Atrometus, of the deme Cothocidae, was well regarded by the Macedonians and
displayed far more confidence than the other members of the delegation. The reason for
this was his friendship with Philip, the gifts he received from him, Philips kind and
patient willingness to listen to him; Philips glance was sympathetic and displayed his
good will. All these facts led Aeschines to speak freely and fluently.
Demosthenes in Macedonia was not the only person to have this experience, despite his
great eloquence; it happened also to Theophrastus of Eresus. He failed in a speech
before the Areopagus, and made the excuse that he was struck dumb by the prestige of
the assembly. A tart and prompt reply was made by Demochares, who said The jury
were Athenians, Theophrastus, not the Twelve Gods.
Book 8.15
Philip had defeated the Athenians at Chaeronea. Encouraged by his success he
nevertheless kept control of his faculties and did not become arrogant. So he thought it
necessary to be reminded by one of his slaves early in the morning that he was a human
being, and he assigned this task to the slave. He would not go out himself, they say, or let
any petitioner in to see him, until the slave had called out this daily message to him three
times. The slave said Philip, you are a human being.
Book 9.3
Note that Alexander spoiled his friends by allowing them excessive luxury, if it is true
that Hagnon had gold nails in his boots, and Cleitus when about to transact business
walked on purple cloth to receive petitioners. Perdiccas and Craterus were keen on
exercise, and were equipped with tents of leather a stade in length, and with these they
took over a substantial area in the camp in order to perform their exercises.A great deal
of sand, useful for gymnastics, was transported for them by pack animals. Leonnatus
and Menelaus, who enjoyed hunting, had nets a hundred stades long.
Alexanders own tent could accommodate a hundred beds. Fifty gold pillars divided it
and supported the roof, which was gilded and expensively embroidered. Inside it stood

in line first of all five hundred Persians, called the apple bearers, wearing cloaks of
purple and quince yellow, then came a thousand archers dressed in flame color and
scarlet. In front of these were the five hundred Macedonians with silver shields. In the
middle of the tent was a golden throne, on which Alexander sat to transact business,
surrounded on all sides by bodyguards. An enclosure wall around the tent was manned
by a thousand Macedonians and ten thousand Persians. No one dared approach him
without good reason, as he aroused great fear; his pride and good fortune had raised
him to the position of a tyrant.
Book 9.30
Anaxarchus was on campaign with Alexander when winter began. Knowing that
Alexander would be pitching camp in a spot that had no timber, he disposed of all his
equipment and loaded his pack animals with wood. When they got to the camp and
there was a shortage of wood, Alexanders couches were burned in order to provide him
with heat. But when someone reported that Anaxarchus had a fire, he called on him and
stayed in Anaxarchus tent. Learning of the latters foresight he was very complimentary
about it, and in return for the use of the fire he gave him twice as much equipment and
clothing as he had thrown away.
Book 9.36
A cithara player was performing before Antigonus, who frequently gave him orders to
tune first the lowest string, then the middle one. The man was annoyed and said: Sire, I
hope you are not overtaken by such an evil fate that you become more expert on these
matters than I am.*
Book 9.37
Anaxarchus, known as the fortunate man, laughed at Alexander for declaring himself
a god. One day when Alexander was ill and the doctor ordered that some broth be
prepared for him, Anaxarchus laughed and said: The hopes of our god depend on a cup
of broth.
Book 9.38
Alexander arrived at Troy. As he looked around attentively, one of the Trojans came up
to him and showed him the lyre belonging to Alexander.* I should have preferred to see
that of Achilles, he said. This was excellent from Alexander because he was keen to see
something that had belonged to a good soldier, an object with which he had sung the
deeds of famous men. What did Paris lyre accompany except songs of adultery, the kind
that attract and charm women?
Book 10.4
Alexander, son of Philip, wearing full armour, completed three successive marches of
four hundred stades. He then attacked the enemy before resting his army and defeated
the opposing forces.
Book 10.22
Note that Dioxippus, in the presence of Alexander and the Macedonians, took a club and
fought a duel against the Macedonian hoplite Corragus. He broke the mans pike, seized
hold of him in full armour, and stood on his neck as he lay on the ground. Then he pulled
out the knife he carried in his belt and killed the man. But he was hated by Alexander,
and despairing because of this hatred, he lost heart and died.
Book 11.9

Phocion too was poor. When Alexander sent him a hundred talents he asked: Why does
he give them to me? When they said that Alexander considered him the only good and
noble Athenian he remarked: Then let him leave me in that condition.
Book 12.7
Note that Alexander laid a wreath on Achilles tomb and Hephaestion on Patroclus,
hinting that he was the object of Alexanders love, as Patroclus was of Achilles.
Book 12.14
They say that among the Greeks Alcibiades was the most charming and handsome,
among the Romans Scipio. It is also said that Demetrius Poliorcetes claimed to be
handsome. Alexander, the son of Philip is reported to have possessed a natural beauty:
his hair was wavy and fair. They say there was something slightly alarming about
Alexanders appearance. When Homer wishes to praise the handsome he compares them
to trees (Iliad 18.56,437): he grew like a sapling.
Book 12.16
Note that Alexander hated Perdiccas because he was bellicose, Lysimachus because he
was a good general, and Seleucus because he was brave. Antigonus ambition annoyed
him. He disliked Antipater for his leadership and Ptolemy for his cleverness.
Book 12.26
The greatest drinkers on record, they say, were Xenagoras of Rhodes, who was called
Amphora, the boxer Heraclides, and Proteas son of Lanice and childhood companion of
king Alexander. Alexander himself is said to have drunk more than any other man.
Book 12.34
Many instances of love among the ancients have been recorded for us, among them the
following prominent cases. Pausanias was in love with his wife, Apelles with Alexanders
mistress she was called Pancaste and came from Larisa. She is said to have been the
first woman Alexander slept with.
Book 12.37
When Alexander was pursuing Bessus, he became short of food, and both he and his
men ate camels and pack animals. As their stock of wood gave out they ate the meat raw.
They were helped by having plenty of silphium to tenderize the meat.
Book 12.39
Perdiccas the Macedonian who accompanied Alexander on his expedition was
apparently so courageous that he once went alone into a cave where a lioness had her
lair. He did not catch the lioness, but he emerged carrying her cubs. Perdiccas won
admiration for this feat.
Not only Greeks, but barbarians as well, are convinced that the lioness is an animal of
great bravery and very difficult to contend with. They say that the Assyrian Semiramis
had her spirits raised, not if she killed a lion or leopard or another animal of that kind,
but if she captured a lioness.
Book 12.43
I hear that Darius the son of Hystaspes carried the quiver for Cyrus. The last Darius,
who was defeated by Alexander was a slave. Archelaus the king of Macedon was the son
of the slave Simiche. Menelaus the grandfather of Philip was classified as illegitimate;
his son Amyntas was believed to be a servant of Aeropus and a slave. Perseus, who was

defeated by the Roman Paulus, was born in Argos, the son of an undistinguished man.
Eumenes is thought to have been the child of a poor father who played music at funerals.
Antigonus the son of Philip, who had one eye and consequently was known as Cyclops,
was a peasant. Polysperchon was a bandit. Themistocles, who defeated the barbarians at
sea and was the only man to understand the messages of the gods in oracles, was the son
of a Thracian slave woman, and his mother was called Habrotonon. Phocion nicknamed
the Good was the child of a man who made pestles, while they say that Demetrius of
Phalerum (fr.2b W.) was born a slave in the household of Timotheus and Conon.
Although Hyperbolus, Cleophon, and Demades became champions of the Athenian
democracy, no one could easily say who their fathers were. Furthermore, Callicratidas,
Gylippus, and Lysander were called inferiors at Sparta, this being the term for the
slaves of rich men sent by the father of a family to share in exercise at the gymnasium. It
was Lycurgus who made this concession and granted citizenship at Sparta to those who
adhered to the rules for the education of children. Epaminondas was also the son of an
undistinguished father. Cleon, the tyrant of Sicyon was a pirate.
Book 12.51
The doctor Menecrates became so arrogant that he called himself Zeus. One day he sent
Philip of Macedon a letter in the following terms: Menecrates Zeus greets Philip.
Philip replied: Philip wishes Menecrates good health. I advise you to take yourself off
to the region of Anticyra.* By this he hinted that the man was mad.
Philip was giving a grand banquet, and he invited this man to the feast. He ordered a
separate couch for him, and when Menecrates had settled in his place Philip put an
incense burner close to him, and lit the incense for him. Everyone else was feasting, and
it was a splendid occasion. At first Menecrates was able to hold out and he enjoyed the
honor paid to him; but when hunger gradually overcame him and he was shown up to be
the mortal he was, and a nave one at that, he got up and walked away, saying he had
been insulted. Philip had very artfully brought his insanity into the open.
Book 12.53
It has not escaped my notice that the causes of the greatest wars somehow seem trivial.
The Persian war is said to have had its origin in the disagreement between Maeandrius
of Samos and the Athenians, the Peloponnesian War because of the small tablet about
the Megarians, the so-called Sacred War as a result of enforcing a verdict given by the
Amphictyones, and the Chaeronean War because the Athenians were at odds with Philip
and did not wish to accept .
Book 12.54
When Aristotle (fr. 659 R.) wished to soothe Alexanders anger and check his annoyance
with many people, he wrote to him as follows: Temper and anger are not displayed to
inferiors but to superiors; and no one is equal to you.
Aristotle gave essential advice to Alexander and benefited many people. Among other
things he resettled his home town, which had been razed by Philip.
Book 12.57
When Alexander the son of Philip led his forces against Thebes the gods sent them signs
and portents presaging their imminent fate; but the Thebans thought Alexander had
died in Illyria and they made many rude remarks about him. The marsh at Onchestus
made a continuous frightening noise which seemed like a bull roaring. The spring called
Dirce, running parallel to the Ismenus and the walls themselves, which had always
previously had clear and pure water, was suddenly and unexpectedly filled with blood.

The Thebans were sure the gods threatened the Macedonians. In the city at the temple of
Demeter a spider began to cover the face of the cult statue with its handiwork and weave
its usual product. The statue of Athena known as Alalcomeneis caught fire
spontaneously, though no light was set to it; and much else.
Book 12.58
Dioxippus the Athenian athlete victorious at Olympia was driving into Athens as the
athletes used to. A crowd collected from all directions and watched him intently. In it
was a woman of great beauty who came to enjoy the spectacle. On seeing her Dioxippus
was immediately struck by her beauty; he could not keep his eyes off her, turning to look
at her and changing colour, so that many people realized he was not gazing idly at the
woman. First to detect his feelings was Diogenes of Sinope, who said to his neighbours;
Look at your great athlete held in the grip of a little girl.
Book 12.60
Dionysius II and Philip son of Amyntas met one day. Naturally there was a long and
flowing conversation, and it included the following exchange. Philip asked Dionysius
how it was that having inherited such a powerful state from his father he had not
maintained it. The other replied, not without point: My father left me everything else,
but not the luck by which he obtained those possessions and kept them.
Book 12.64
Alexander, son of Philip and Olympias, lay dead in Babylon the man who said he was
the son of Zeus. While his followers argued about the succession he lay waiting for
burial, which even the very poor achieve, since the nature common to all mankind
requires a funeral for those no longer living. But he was left unburied for thirty days,
until Aristander of Telmissus, whether by divine inspiration or for some other reason,
entered the Macedonian assembly and said that of all kings in recorded history
Alexander was the most fortunate, both in his life and in his death; the gods had told
him that the land which received his body, the earlier habitation of his soul, would enjoy
the greatest good fortune and be unconquered through the ages.
On hearing this they began to quarrel seriously, each man wishing to carry off the prize
to his own kingdom, so as to have a relic guaranteeing safety and permanence for his
realm. But Ptolemy, if we are to believe the story, stole the body and hurriedly made off
with it to Alexandria in Egypt. The other Macedonians did nothing, whereas Perdiccas
tried to give chase. He was no so much interested in consideration for Alexander and due
respect for his body as fired and incited by Artistanders prediction. When he caught up
with Ptolemy there was quite a violent struggle over the corpses, in some ways akin to
the one over the phantom at Troy, which Homer (Iliad 5.449) celebrates in his tale,
where Apollo puts it down among the heroes to protect Aeneas. Ptolemy checked
Perdiccas attack. He made a likeness of Alexander clad in royal robes and a shroud of
enviable quality. Then he laid it on one of the Persian carriages, and arranged the bier
sumptuously with silver, gold, and ivory. Alexanders real body was sent ahead without
fuss and formality by a secret and little used route. Perdiccas found the imitation corpse
with the elaborate carriage, and halted his advance, thinking he had laid hands on the
prize. Too late he realized he had been deceived; it was not possible to go in pursuit.
Book 13.7
When Alexander captured Thebes, he sold into slavery all free citizens except priests. He
also exempted from sale his fathers hosts Philip as a boy had been a hostage there
and released their relatives. He paid honour to the descendants of Pindar, and allowed

his house alone to stand. He executed about 6,000 Thebans, and 30,000 were taken
prisoner.
Book 13.11
A story has reached me according to which Isocrates the orator was the cause of the
enslavement which the Persians suffered at the hands of the Macedonians. The
Panegyricus, which he delivered before the Greeks, became known in Macedonia, and
first inspired Philip to attack Asia.* When he died, it caused his son Alexander, as heir to
his fathers estate, to continue Philips enterprise.
*Isocrates published the Panegyricus in 380 B.C. Aelian speaks as if he delivered it in
person, attempting to rally panhellenic sentiment at the Olympic festival, but this is not
correct.
Book 13.13
Ptolemy son of Lagus (they say) took great pleasure in enriching his friends. He said it
was better to make others rich than be rich oneself.
Book 13.30
When Alexanders mother Olympias learned that her son lay unburied for a long time,
she groaned deeply and cried in a high-pitched voice: My child, she said, you wanted
to reach heaven and made it your aim, but now you do not enjoy even what are surely
common rights shared by all men, the right to earth and to burial. Thus she lamented
her own fate and criticised her sons arrogance.
Book 13.36
Olympias sent Philips daughter Eurydice she was the child of Philip and an Illyrian
woman hemlock, a noose and a dagger. Eurydice chose the noose.
Book 14.1
Aristotle, son of Nicomachus, a wise man in reality as well as by repute, was deprived of
the privileges he had been granted at Delphi,* and wrote to Antipater on the subject as
follows (fr. 666 R.): About the privileges voted to me at Delphi and now taken away
from me, my feeling is that I neither care about them very much nor disregard them
entirely. This is not the remark of a man anxious to be well known, and I would not
accuse Aristotle of such sentiments; on the contrary, he sensibly thought there was a
difference between not receiving in the first place and being stripped of what one had
acquired. Not to receive was no great blow; but to acquire and then be deprived was
painful.
Book 14.11
Philiscus once said to Alexander: Take care of your reputation; dont become a plague ,
bring health. By plague he meant violent and savage rule, the capture of cities, the
destruction of populations; by health, care for safety of subjects; that is the benefit of
peace.
Book 14.12
Note that when traveling the Persian king took with him, in order not to be bored, a
small block of lime wood and a little knife to scrape it. This was the activity of the royal
hands. He certainly did not take with him a book or serious thoughts, in order to be able
to read something important and improving or meditate on a noble and worthwhile
subject.

Book 14.46c
....
Book 14.47a
Alexander son of Philip is said to have been very jealous of his friends and envious of
them all, though not for identical reasons. He disliked Perdiccas for being a born soldier,
Lysimachus because he had a good reputation as a general, and Seleucus for his bravery.
Antigonus ambition pained him, he disliked Antipaters quality of leadership, was
suspicious of Ptolemys adroitness, and feared Atarrius insubordination, not to mention
Pithons revolutionary instinct.
Book 14.48
Note that Philip took the sons of leading Macedonian families into his personal service,
not intending (so they say) to insult or demean them, but on the contrary training them
to be fit and ensuring that they would be ready for action. He took a hostile view (they
say) of any who were self-indulgent and slack in obeying orders. So he whipped
Aphthonetus for breaking ranks, leaving the road because he was thirsty, and entering
an inn. And he executed Archedamus because when he personally ordered the man to
stay in his armour, he took it off. Archedamus was unable to resist thoughts of gain and
had hoped to win over the king by flattery and wheedling.

Liber de Morte
translated by Karl Soundy ([email protected])
CONCERNING THE DEATH AND TESTAMENT OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
[87] Letters from Olympias, his mother, were brought to Alexander, in which were described
the crimes of Antipater, who had been left behind as prefect in Macedonia; and she confirmed
that she had taken refuge in Epirus to guard against her being arrested. Alexander heard this
with displeasure, he wanted Antipater summoned to him due to the threat of his ill-will and
sent Craterus out to take his place.
[88] Antipater, suspecting that he had been denounced and, having heard that Alexander,
corrupted by his good fortune, had become more arrogant and more cruel, fearing for himself,
initiated a plot to kill Alexander, and he prepared some poison in a small iron box. This he
locked within an ass's hoof with an iron clasp, that the virulence of the poison might be
contained.
[89] This he handed to his son Cassander, and he put it with the gifts that he was taking to the
King in Babylon, and he gave him a note, which, when he arrived he was to give to his
younger brother Iollas, Alexander's chief servant, so that the affair might be effected in a spirit
of unanimity.
[90] Meanwhile, Alexander had been several days in Babylon and, around midday, was
relaxing in his bedchamber when a certain peasant woman entered the Palace. She wanted to
see him with a prodigy, which she had brought with her. This was made up as follows; from
the belly up it was a boy, below were the foreparts of animals, of which the first were of a
lion, the second of a wolf, the third of a panther, the fourth of a dog, the fifth of a boar, these
seemed all one body, just as Scylla is painted.
[91] But in this case the beasts were alive but the boy was dead and decomposing. This
woman asked for the King's chamberlain to be called, that he might announce her, and her
true prodigy, to him. He announced her to Alexander and he asked that the petitioner be
admitted and ordered those present to leave the chamber. Having been summoned she showed

the King her portent and said she had given birth to it herself.
[92] When he saw it Alexander was seized with terror; at once, he ordered the household
Magi and Chadaeans summoned. Four came; Phippus (sic), who was older than the others and
stood higher in the King's affections, came at a more leisurely pace. Then Alexander showed
the prodigy to those who had arrived, what, other than the threat of death, could they say its
meaning was? Then they replied that this was a good omen for him, since the human body
had been born above those of the wild beasts, just as he was destined to have under his sway
all the wild and barbarous nations. Having spoken so, they left.
[93] Not much later the man we mentioned above arrived. When he saw it he cried out in a
loud voice; and tore his clothes and pulled out his hair lamenting that the King was in the final
days of his life. When Alexander saw this he was frightened and confused; but he pulled
himself together and said, so that he might appear brave, that he was mortal; what Fate had
decreed none might change.
[94] The other said, breathing heavily, 'O King, there is no reason to count you among the
ranks of the living; for your own body has quit mankind.' Then, asked to explain himself, he
replied, 'O most mortal of men listen carefully to what I say. This human part, which you see,
is you. The images of beasts, which you see, are the wild and barbarous people you rule.
Which, had the human part been living, it would have meant that you would gain power over
them; [] and that the human part is attacked by these kinds of beasts, so those whom you
have about you are your enemies and shortly after your death will vie with each other for
dominion of the world'.
[95] Having said this he left, taking the prodigy with him, in order to burn it. Then Alexander
spoke, 'O Juppiter!' he said 'If only I had been permitted to complete my endeavours! But
seeing that you consider them done accept me as the third mortal.' By this he meant, it would
seem, that Father Liber had been the first to be accounted among the Gods, the second was
Hercules; he said he should be the third since his deeds were no less than those of these Gods.
And after that he faced the future resolutely, careless of life.
[96] Meanwhile Cassander, the son of Antipater, came to Babylon and gave the King the gifts
he had brought. Then he met with Iollas, his esteemed brother, and lay before him; their
father's instructions, Olympias' hatred, the nature and arrogance of Alexander and the peril
hanging over their whole family; having handed over the poison he entreated him to act as
swiftly as possible []
[97] then Alexander{Medius} told Iollas that he would see to it himself. Asking him to
organise a feast, and to summon those friends he wished [] Now, so that I do not seem shy
of naming those who were there, unlike Onesicritus, who says he knows but won't tell. There
were Perdiccas, Medius, Leonnatus, erat teon [sic], Meleager, Theocles, Asander, Philippus,
Nearchus, Stasanor, Heracleides the Thracian, Polydorus, Holcias, Menander [.]
[98] Of whom none were innocent save Eumenes, Perdiccas, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Asander,
and Holcias. The others were of like mind to Iollas and aware of the turn of events and, in fear
of Alexander's power, though he were to die shortly, they chatted with him even as they
murdered him.
[99] Iollas entered the party of guests and handed over the poison cup. When he had drunk
from it, he broke the course of chatter with a great cry of anguished pain, as if struck by an
arrow. Then he took himself off to bed. They in turn left fearing the outcome of events.
Meanwhile wickedness was done to Alexander. When he wished to vomit and asked for a
feather, Iolaus [sic] handed the King one that had been dipped in the poison. When he put this
down his throat, which [] the pain returned more severely and the torture was relentless. He

lay awake all night.

[100] The next day, when he found his tongue swollen, he ordered everyone to leave his room
so that he might reflect in solitude. But Cassander, once he had delivered the poison, set out,
by night, to Cilicia. There to await Iollas; for he had agreed to meet him as soon as Alexander
was dead. Then he would send one of his men to his father in Macedonia to tell how the deed
was done.
[101] But when night had fallen, Alexander ordered Rhoxane, his wife, and the other friends
back to their chambers that he might more easily get to sleep. When he felt himself alone he
dragged himself up and put out the lights. Then creeping on all fours he went out by the door
that lead to the River Euphrates - which flowed through the middle of the city - and he went
straight ahead, glancing about him all the while. Seeing his wife, Rhoxane running up he held
still, hoping she would pass him by.
[102] And when she came not finding him in the bed and saw the open door, she heard a
piteous groan and followed after him, seeing Alexander continually falling to the ground, she
gathered him up in an embrace, full of pity. For his part he threw himself upon her and said
forcefully, 'O Rhoxane, my last joy has been cast away by you, I should have been granted
immortality. But take care you say nothing of this.' That said she helped him back to his
chamber.
[103] When the sun had risen he ordered Perdiccas, Holcias, Lysimachus and Ptolemy to be
summoned and he ordered them to allow none to enter to see him until he had done what he
wished to. They left. He retained Hermogenes and Combaphus, young boys, the one to take
down his Will, the other to look after the lights. That day and night he spent writing his Will.
[104] Meanwhile, in the army, indiscipline and mutiny raised their heads, threatening those
about the King with death unless they showed them Alexander's body, for they were believed
to have made away with him. And a great throng rushed to the king amid the tumult. When
Alexander heard the row he was puzzled as to what it was. Then Perdiccas told him of the
Macedonians' suspicions and their onset. Alexander ordered himself to be taken up and put in
a high place where the crowd could be admitted by one door and leave by another.
[105] Hundreds of soldiers came here and went in one by one, weeping and greeting him, and
then leaving by the other door. He greeted them all silently, with a wave or a nod, for he was
very close to death and could no longer speak. Among these there was a certain Peucolaus, a
man of humble birth, who stood before him crying and said 'O Alexander, your father was a
most efficacious King of Macedonia, who upon his death [] was showered with praise and
claimed to be the equal of the Gods in glory. Now what is going to happen?' He said, 'You are
leaving us and the name of our country and the Macedones will perish. It would be fitting if
we all joined you and made one end of it.'
[106] When he had said this Alexander wept with him and taking the Macedonian by the hand
squeezed it to show that he must be firm of spirit. Afterwards, when all the soldiers had filed
passed and the chamber was empty he ordered Perdiccas and the others to come in, in order to
speak to them. He handed Holcias the Will and the Letter that he had written to the Rhodians
so that he could read it back to him in a clear voice. It ran thus;
[107] 'King Alexander greets the Senate and People of Rhodes. Having brought the
boundaries of our fatherland to the Pillars of Hercules [] and by the enemies on them, we
have made the following provision for our kingdom and its affairs. Of these things we believe
you to be the most fitting overseers [procuratores] and guardians [custodes], we have
recognised your good faith [fides] and strong principles [virtus] and for that reason always
accounted yours a great city. Wherefore we shall write to Cebetes, the chief magistrate of your

town and leave in your hands my future plans which can be seen in my Will, a copy of which
we are sending to you.
[108] We have decided to give to those whose merit and rank demand it, those powers and
goods which we hereby bequeath, and everything already written, so that from the Royal
Treasury, we order those who shall be in charge thereof, to give you, for the beautification of
your city, three hundred talents of gold coin, and each year forty thousand medimni of
threshed corn and forty warships. Also we have written, that our body is to be taken to Egypt
and there the priests shall take care of its burial. It is thus fitting to your authority and virtue to
see that this is done and our wishes carried out. Farewell.'
[109] When this had been written in a letter, he ordered his Will to be read back to him.
Having sealed it he gave it to Holcias and by many signs ordered him to find someone loyal
who might at once take the letter and a copy of the will to Rhodes. Holcias brought in a
certain Theban called Ismenias and gave the letter to him and the King showed the Theban
that he might take the Will. And after the way of his country he gladly took the letter carefully
and swiftly to Rhodes.
[110] But Alexander improved due to his wife, Rhoxane, applying a poultice to his midriff
and soothing his pain thus extending his life by five days. Then, when again, he wanted a
drink of water, the cup tainted with poison was given to him by Iollas. When he drained this
he cried out with renewed pain, then turned around and spoke, despairingly to his friends; 'So
that when I am dead my wishes may be followed, I have written a Will. Now, in the
meantime, you Perdiccas and Antipater must look to and after our affairs.'
[111] Then Holcias took himself from his head, since he did not wish to be seen weeping, and
left the room. Then Alexander called Lysimachos to him, 'Go, and take care of Thrace.' And
Lysimachos left the bedroom in tears. And then he said to Ptolemy, 'You too, go and take care
of Egypt and my body, take care to gather it and see that it is looked after.' And he whispered
other things he desired into his ear. The other hearing these could no longer contain his tears
and, turning his head retreated from sight.
[112] And now the force of the poison disabled his tongue and shadows were seen in his eyes;
struggling painfully, he said with a groan, 'Take me Holy Hercules and Minerva, and to you,
friends, fare thee very well.' Then he dragged the ring from his finger and gave it to Perdiccas.
And Rhoxane, with a great commotion, fell to Perdiccas' feet, tearing her hair out. Holcias
gathered her up from there and brought her to Alexander. He was grinding his teeth and
seemed about to give up the ghost, he began to hug and kiss her and he put her right hand in
Perdiccas' and by nods showed he was to look after her. Then with death approaching,
Rhoxane kissed his eyes and accepted his soul into her mouth.
[113] So Alexander the Great died thirty-three years after his birth, having reigned for thirteen
of them. Then, suddenly, not even knowing that the King had died, the army was swept by an
irrational terror and tumult. For they were all running to arms haphazard, though none knew
how the King was. Meanwhile, Perdiccas with those who were in the Court, collected the
dead King in a bath tub, and dressed him in his purple tunic and chalmys and bound his head
with a diadem; and they anointed him with many perfumes, mixed with honey, and dressed
the bath with a purple coverlet and an awning of Babylonian design.
[114] Afterwards they went to address the army from the speaker's dais, heads covered and
sprinkled with earth. Having called that great throng to silence through a herald, Perdiccas

spoke thus; 'Know ye, O Macedonians, that Alexander your king has gone to join the Gods.
You should, therefore come together and speak of good things, eschewing profanity.' Then,
the herald having once more established silence, he ordered the will to be read by Holcias. It
ran thus;
[115] 'King Alexander, son of Ammon and Olympias, makes this Will. If my wife, Rhoxane,
bears a son, he is to be the most powerful King of the Macedonians; until such time
Arrhidaeus, son of Philip, is to be the commander of the Macedonians; should a daughter be
born to my wife, Rhoxane, she is to be brought up and the assembled Macedonians shall
choose one of their number worthy of my dignity and their trust who shall be her consort and
he whom they choose shall be King of Macedonia.
[116] 'For Olympias, my mother, let Rhodes be her home, or any other place she should wish,
and each year the King of Macedonia should see to it that she who gave me life has
everything she needs. To Leonnatus I give the Hellespontine Satrapy and Holcias' sister
Cleonice, as a wife. Of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia I make Eumenes the governor, he who
was my secretary. I order all the islands to be free; let them possess what they used to possess
and live according to their own laws.
[117] 'Of Pamphylia, Lycia, and Greater Phrygia I make Antigonos governor. Of Caria I order
Asander to be the leader. And the territory which lies beyond the River, which they call Halys,
in these lands I give Antipater dominion. I make Nicanor governor of Cilicia. Of Syria up to
its boundary, which they call The Mesopotamian, I make Pithon governor. Of Babylon and the
Babylonian lands, which were formerly joined to it, dominion is to be Seleukos', who was my
hypaspist [armiger]. Phoenicia and Coele-Syria I bequeath to Meleager. I hand over the
kingdom of Egypt to Ptolemy and give him my sister, Cleopatra as a wife.
[118] 'Those regions between the borders of Babylonia and Bactria are to retain the governors
they have; and all are to be subject to Perdiccas as supreme commander {summus imperator] ,
and to him I give my wife Rhoxane, daughter of Oxyartes the Bactrian, as his wife. To the
People of Rhodes, for the adornment of their city, I order three hundred talents of gold coin
from the Royal Treasury, and forty triremes and twenty thousand medimni of corn from
Egypt, free each year and from the neighbouring regions of Asia twenty thousand medimni of
threshed corn; and I order their government to be elected from the townsmen.
[119] 'To the priests, who are Egyptian, two thousand talents of gold coin are to be given,
from Public Funds and Ptolemy is to be in charge of carrying my body to Egypt. Those
Egyptian priests, as seems proper to them, shall obtain a coffin wherein the body shall rest, let
it be made from two hundred talents of gold.
[120] 'To Boeotian Thebes, for the re-founding of their city, Igive three thousand talents of
gold coin, and to the exiles who fled because of the war, their property, which I confiscated, I
restore. Those who have suffered enough out of fear, and are my opponents, I give back their
life. To the Athenians, I leave for the Temple of Minerva, a golden chair and for her clothes, a
peplus of gold. In the Temple of Juno in Argos I my arms are to be deposited, and my
standards and one thousand talents of silver. To Delphic Apollo are to be given all the ivory
tusks and two hide serpents and one hundred gold dishes; to Miletus, forty talents of silver, to
Cnidus, forty talents of silver.
[121] 'Of India which is beyond the Indus, let Taxiles be ruler. Of India, which lies between

the Hydaspes and Indus, let Porus be the ruler there. Of the Parapanisdae, I make Oxyartes,
the father of my wife, Rhoxane, the governor. Of Arachosia and Gedrosia Sibyrtius is to be
the ruler. I give the rule of Aria and Drangaria to Stasanor of Soli. 'Let Philip rule Bactria.
Parthyaea and Hyrcania, which adjoins it, I give to Phrataphernes; Carmania to Tlepolemus.
Peucestes is to rule all Persia. Oxydates is to be banished from all his lands and Craterus is to
rule in his stead. Argaeus is similarly to lose Susia ; Coenus is to succeed him.
[122] 'The governorship of the Illyrians, I give to Holcias, and five hundred pack horses and
three thousand talents of silver coin. From which funds Holcias is to make statues of
Alexander, Ammon, Minerva, Hercules, Olympias, and of Philip my father, and erect them in
the Temple at Olympia. All the governors I have created are to send Gilt statues of Alexander
to Delphi, Athens[Hiolce]Ptolemy is to erect gilt statues in Egypt of Alexander, Ammon,
Minerva, Hercules, Olympias and my father Philip.
[123] 'All this is witnessed by Olympian Jove, Hercules, our ancestor, Minerva, Mars,
Ammon Sol, and the Good Fortune of Alexander. If anything is done by anyone contrary to
the provisions of my Will, may Jove and the Gods of Olympus bear witness, that nothing may
be done with impunity, let them be damned in the eyes of men and Gods as impious and oathbreakers.'

Athenaeus - Deipnosophists BOOK III

Intro-I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII-IX-X-XI-XII-XIIIa-XIIIb-XIV-XV
Book III. 73 b - d
Phylarchus says: Never before, in any region, had Egyptian beans been sown, or, if they
were, did they grow anywhere except in Egypt. But in the reign of Alexander, son of Pyrrhus,
it chanced that they sprang up in a swamp near the Thyamis river in Thesprotia, a region of
Epeirus. For perhaps two years, then, they bore fruit luxuriantly and spread; but when
Alexander stationed a guard over them to see to it that no one should even approach the spot,
to say nothing of gathering them at will, the swamp dried up, and not only did not produce the
aforesaid fruit again, but whatever water it had contained never reappeared. The like also
occurred to Aedepsus. For, not to mention other waters, a spring came to light which sent
forth cold water not far from the sea. The sick who drank of it received the greatest benefit, so
that many came even from great distances to use the water. Accordingly the generals of King
Antigonus, desiring to be more efficient in collecting revenue, imposed a special tax on all
who drank, and as a result the stream dried up. In the Troad, also, all who desired were at
liberty in old times to collect salt at Tragasae. But when Lysimachus levied a tax on it, it
disappeared. Surprised at this, he exempted the place from taxation, whereupon the salt
increased once more.
Book III. 77 d e
And Theopompus, in the fifty-fourth book of his Histories, says that in parts of Philips
domain, round about Bisaltia, Amphipolis, and Grastonia, in Macedonia, the fig-trees produce
figs, the vines grapes, the olive-trees olives, in the middle of spring, at the time when you
would expect them to be just bursting forth, and that Philip was lucky in everything.
Book III 87 b
Hicesius, the disciple of Erasistratus, says that some cockles are called rough, others are
called regal. The rough are also of poor flavour and afford little nourishment, but are easily
passed; purple-fishers use them also for bait; of the smooth varieties, on the other hand, their
excellence increases with their size. Hegesander, in the Commentaries, says that the roughshelled conchs are called sacks by the Macedonians, but rams, by the Athenians.

Book III 93 c d
And Chares of Mitylene says, in the seventh part of his Tales of Alexander: A creature
similar to the oyster is caught in the Indian Sea, likewise also in the waters adjacent to
Armenia, Persia, Susa, and Babylon; it is of considerable size and oblong, and contains within
it a flesh which is plump and white and very fragrant. From it they extract white bones which
they call pearls, from which they make necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. The Persians,
Medes, and in fact all Asiatics value them far more than articles made of gold.
Book III. 98 d e
Speaking of the same Dionysius, Athanis, in the first book of his Sicilian History, says that he
called the ox earth-earer and the pig iacchos. Like him also was Alexarchus (brother of
Cassander, once king of Macedonia) the found of the city named Uranopolis. Concerning him
Heracleides Lembus, in the thirty-seventh book of his Histories, narrates the following:
Alexarchus, founder of Uranopolis, introduced peculiar expressions, calling the cock dawncrier, the barber mortal-shaver, the drachma a silver bit, the quart-measure daily
feeder, the herald loud bawler. And on one occasion he sent this strange message to the
authorities of Cassandreaia*: Alexarchus, to the Primipiles of Brothers Town, joy: Our sunfleshed yeans, I wot, and dams thereof which guard the braes whereon they were born, have
been visited by the fateful dome of the gods in might, fresheting them hence from the
forsaken fields. What this letter means, I fancy, not even the god of Delphi could make out.
* Named after his brother, Cassander.
Book III. 100 e f
Lynceus of Samos, intimate friend of Theophrastus, also knows of the use of the paunch with
silphium extract. At any rate, in his description of Ptolemys symposium his words are: A
paunch was passed round, served in vinegar and silphium juice. This juice is mentioned by
Antiphanes in Unhappy Lovers, speaking of Cyrene: I will not sail back to the place from
which we were carried away, for I want to say good-bye to all horses, silphium, chariots,
silphium stalks, steeple-chasers, silphium leaves, fevers, and silphium juice.
Book III. 101 e - f
Lynceus, however, in his description of the dinner given by the flute-girl Lamia in honour of
Demetrius Poliorcetes represents the guests as eating all sorts of fish and flesh the moment
they entered the dining room. Similarly, in describing the arrangements for King Antigonuss
dinner, when he celebrated the festival of Aphrodite, as well as the dinner given by King
Ptolemy, he says that fish and meat were served first.
Book III. 105 e
That artificer of fancy dishes, Archestratus, gives this advice: If ever you go to Issus, city of
the Carians, you will get a good-sized shrimp. But it is rare in the market, whereas in
Macedonia and Ambracia there are plenty.
Book III. 120 d - e
Crowding all the drinks at the beginning is a practice to be avoided, for they render it hard to
absorb any additional moisture. But the Macedonians, as Ephippus* of Olynthus observes in
his account of the funeral of Alexander and Hephaestion, never understood how to drink in
moderation, but rather drank deep at the beginning of the feast. Hence they were drunk while
the first courses were still being served and could not enjoy their food.
* Ephippus of Olynthus, one of Alexander the Greats officers, author of a work on the funeral
of Alexander and Hephaestion (last half of the fourth century B.C.)
Book III. 124 c
Even the excellent Xenophon, in the Memorabilia, knows of the use of snow in drinking, and

Chares of Mitylene, when he recounts the siege of the Indian capital Petra. He says that
Alexander dug thirty refrigerating pits which he filled with snow and covered with oak
boughs. In this way, he says, snow will last a long time.
Top
Book IV. 128 c 131 e
In Macedonia, as I have already said, Caranus celebrated his marriage with a banquet at which
the number of men invited to gather was twenty; no sooner had they taken their places on the
couches than they were presented with silver cups, one each, to keep as their own. Each guest,
also, had been crowned before he entered with a gold tiara, worth, every one of them, five
gold staters. And after they had emptied their cups, they were each given a bronze platter of
Corinthian manufacture, containing a loaf as wide as the platter; also chickens and ducks, and
ringdoves, too, and a goose, and an abundance of suchlike viands piled high; and each guest
took his portion, platter and all, and distributed it among the slaves who stood behind him.
Many other things to eat were handed round in great variety, following which came a second
platter of silver, on which again lay a huge loaf, and geese, hares, young goats, and curiously
moulded cakes besides, pigeons, turtle-doves, partridges, and other fowl in plenty. This
also, he says,* we presented to the slaves in addition, and when we had had enough of food
we washed our hands. Then numerous chaplets were brought in, made of all kinds of flowers,
and in addition to them all were gold tiaras, equal in weight to the first chaplet.
On top of these viands, Hippolochus says that Proteas, descendant of that Proteas who was the
son of Lanice the same who had been the nurse of King Alexander drank a great deal (for
he was given to drinking, like his grandfather Proteas, Alexanders comrade), and toasted
everybody. Hippolochus then continues with the following; When we had at last pleasantly
taken leave of all sobriety, there entered flute-girls and singers and some Rhodian sambucaplayers. To me these girls looked quite naked, but some said that they had on tunics. And after
a prelude they withdrew. Then came in other girls carrying each two jars fastened together
with a gold band and containing perfume; one jar was silver, the other gold, and held half a
pint. These also they gave to each guest. After dinner, namely a silver platter gilded all over to
no little thickness, and large enough to hold the whole of a roast pig a big one, too which
lay on its back upon it; the belly, seen from above, disclosed that it was full of many bounties.
For, roasted inside it, were thrushes, ducks, and warblers, in unlimited number, pease puree
poured over eggs, oysters, and scallops; all of which, towering high, was presented to each
guest, platters and all. After this we drank and then received a kid, piping hot, again upon
another platter as large as the last, with spoons of gold. Seeing, therefore, our embarrassment,
Caranus ordered baskets and bread-racks made of plaited ivory strips to be given us, at which
we applauded the bridegroom with delight for having rescued our gifts. Then more crowns
again, and a double-jar of gold and silver containing perfume, equal in weight to the first.
Quiet being restored, there trooped in men who would have graced even the religious
observances at the Athenian Feast of Pots. After them entered ithyphallic dancers, clowns, and
some naked female jugglers who performed tumbling acts among swords, and blew fire from
their mouths. After we had finished with them, our attention was next engrossed in a warm
and almost neat drink, the wines at our disposal being Thasian, Mendaean, and Lesbian; and
very large gold cups were handed to each guest. After this draught we were all presented with
a crystal platter about two cubits in diameter, lying in a silver receptacle and full of a
collection of all kinds of baked fish; also a sliver bread-rack containing Cappadocian loaves
of which we ate some and gave the rest to the slaves. Then we washed our hands and put on
crowns, again receiving gold tiaras twice the size of those we had before, and another doublejar of perfume.
When all was quiet, Proteas jumped up from his couch and demanded a six-pint bowl, and

filling it with Thasian wine with just a dash of water he drank it all saying, He that drinks
most shall have least sorrow. And Caranus said, Since you have been the first to drink, be the
first also to receive the bowl as a gift; and this shall be the meed of all the others who drink.
At these words, all of the nine rose up and seized a bowl, each striving to get ahead of the
other. But one unfortunate, who of all our companions was unable to drink, sat up and wept at
his bowless state, until Caranus made him a present of the cup unfilled. After this, a chorus of
one hundred men entered singing tunefully a wedding hymn; then came in dancing girls, some
attired as Nereids, others as Nymphs. While then our merrymaking was proceeding, and the
late hour was beginning to bring darkness, they threw open the room, which had been
curtained all about with white linen; and when this was drawn back, the barriers being let
down by a hidden contrivance, there rose to our view torches; Cupids and Dianas, Pans and
Hermae and many similar figures held the lights in silver brackets. While we were admiring
this artistic device, veritable Erymanthian boars were served to each guest, on square platters
rimmed with gold; they were skewered with silver spears. The wonderful thing about it was,
that though relaxed and heavy with wine, as soon as we saw any of these things introduced we
all became sober enough to stand on our feet, as the saying is.
Well, the slaves began to stuff our happy baskets full until the customary signal for
concluding the banquet was sounded on the trumpet; for this, as you know, is the Macedonian
practice at dinners attended by many guests. Then Caranus, leading off the drinking in small
cups, ordered the slaves to circulate them quickly. We, therefore, sipped them gently as an
antidote to the drinking of unmixed wine which had gone before. Meanwhile, the clown
Mandrogenes had come in, a descendant, so they say, of the celebrated Athenian clown
Straton. He caused many a loud laugh among us by his jokes, and afterwards danced with his
wife who was over eighty years old. And last there came in the concluding courses; that is,
dessert in ivory baskets, and flat cakes of every variety, Cretan and your own Samian, friend
Lynceus, and Attic, were given to all as a present along with the boxes in which they were
separately packed. So, after this, we arose and took our leave, quite sober the gods be my
witness! because we were apprehensive for the safety of the wealth we took with us. But
you, staying in Athens, think it happiness rather to listen to the precepts of Theophrastus,
eating wild thyme and rocket-seed and your esteemed rolls while you attend the festivals of
the Lenaea and the Pots! We, however, have carried away a fortune from Caranuss banquet
instead of trifling portions, and are now looking for houses or lands or slaves to buy.
* The nuptials of Caranus the Macedonian, as described by Hippolochus, of Macedon,
historian (ca. 300 B.C.)
Book IV. 146 c - d
Alexander the Great, every time he dined with his friends, according to Ephippus of Olynthus,
in the book which describes the demise of Alexander and Hephaestion, spent one hundred
minas, (1-1/2 talents) there being perhaps sixty or seventy friends at dinner. But the Persian
king, as Ctesias and Dionon (in his Persian History) say, used to dine in company with 15,000
men, and four hundred talents were expended on the dinner. This amounts, in the coinage of
Itlay, to 2,400,000 denarii, which, divided among 15,000 men, make 160 denarii, Italic
currency, for each man. Consequently it comes to the same sum as that spent by Alexander,
which was one hundred minas, as Ephippus related.
Book IV. 148 d - f
Viewing all this, which surpasses what we have, we may well admire Greek poverty, having
also before our eyes the dinners of the Thebans, an account of which is given by Cleitarchus
in the first book of his History of Alexander. He says that after the demolition of their city by
Alexander, their entire wealth was found to be under 440 talents; he further says that they
were mean-spirited and stingy where food was concerned, preparing for their meals

mincemeat in leaves, and boiled vegetables, anchovies, and other small fish, sausages, beefribs, and pease-porridge. With these, Attaginus, the son of Phrynon, entertained Mardonius
together with fifty other Persians, and Herodotus says in the ninth book that Attaginus was
well supplied with riches. I believe that they could not have won the battle, and that the
Greeks need not have met them in battle-array at Plataeae, seeing that they already had been
done to death by such food.
Book IV. 155 a
And Diyllus of Athens, in the ninth book of his Histories says that when Cassander returned
from Boetia and held the funeral of the king and queen at Aegaeae, as well as of Cynna, the
mother of Eurydice, he not only honored them with all the other fitting rites, but set up also a
contest of single fighters which was entered by four of his soldiers.
Note: F.H.G. ii. 361; the occasion was the state funeral of Arridaeus and Eurydice, murdered
by order of Olympias, 317 B.C. Cynna had been assassinated by Alcetas. All three were
buried in the royal tombs of Aegae.
Book IV. 155 c - d
Duris of Samos, in the seventeenth book of his Histories, says of Polysperchon* that
whenever he was elated by wine he would dance, even though was rather old and second to
none among the Macedonians either in military achievement or in general esteem; he danced
continually, clad in a saffron tunic and wearing on his feet Sicyonian slippers. Agatharchides
of Cnidus, in the eighth book of his Asiatic History records that whenever the friends of
Alexander, son of Philip, entertained him at dinner, they encased everything that was to be
served as dessert** in gold; and when they desired to eat the dessert, they tore off the gold
with the rest of the waste and threw it away, that their friends might be spectators of their
extravagance, while their slaves enjoyed the profit. But these gentry had forgotten, what Duris
also records, that Philip, Alexanders father, possessed a gold cup weighing fifty drachms, and
that he always took it to bed with him and placed it at his head.
* Polysperchon, one of Alexanders generals (lost Macedonia to Cassander 317 B.C.)
** Note: such as nuts, figs, raisins, of which the shells and stones were thrown on the floor.
Book IV. 166 f -167 d
Concerning the extravagance and mode of life of Philip and his companions Theopompus
writes the following in the forty-ninth book of the Histories. After Philip had become
possessor of a large fortune he did not spend it fast. No! he threw it outdoors and cast it away,
being the worst manager in the world. This was true of his companions as well as himself. For
to put it unqualifiedly, not one of them knew how to live uprightly or to manage an estate
discreetly. He himself was to blame for this; being insatiable and extravagant, he did
everything in a reckless manner, whether he was acquiring or giving. For as a soldier he had
not time to count up revenues and expenditures. Add to this also that his companions were
men who had rushed to his side from very many quarters; some were from the land to which
he himself belonged, others were from Thessaly, still others were from all the rest of Greece,
selected not for their supreme merit; on the contrary, nearly every man in the Greek or
barbarian world of a lecherous, loathsome, or ruffianly character flocked to Macedonia and
won the title of companions of Philip. And even supposing that one of them was not of this
sort when he came, he soon became like all the rest, under the influence of the Macedonian
life and habits. It was partly the wars and campaigns, partly also the extravagances of living
that incited them to be ruffians, and live, not in a law-abiding spirit, but prodigally and like
highwaymen.
Duris, in the seventh book of his Macedonian History, speaking of Pasicyprus, king of
Cyprus, and his prodigality, writes the following: After the siege of Tyre, Alexander, in

dismissing Pnytagoras, gave him among other presents a fortress which he himself had asked
for. This fortress the reigning king Pasicyprus had before this been compelled by his
extravagance to sell for fifty talents to Pygmalion of Citium; along with the fortress went his
kingdom too. Pasicyprus took the money and passed his old age in Amathus. Book IV. 171 b
-c
Those who give the summons to come to the kings table, as Pamphilus says, are called table
men, from eleon, which means meat-table. But Artemidorus names them dinnersummoners. He further says that they used to call the foretasters eaters, because they ate
before the king to ensure his safety. But in our day the eater has become the superintendent
of the entire service; his office was distinguished and honorable. Chares, at any rate, in the
third book of his Histories says that Ptolemy Soter was appointed eater for Alexander.
Book IV. 184 b
You, indeed, are not aware that Menecles, the historian of Barca, and again Andron of
Alexandria, in his Chronicles, record that the Alexandrians were the teachers of all Greeks
and barbarians at a time when the entire system of general education had broken down by
reason of the continually recurring disturbances which took place in the period of Alexanders
successors.