Greek Texts & Translations

ch. 27 17.27.1Just at that moment as the men from the city were prevailing, the tide of battle was surprisingly reversed. ^note For the oldest Macedonians, who were exempt from combat duty by virtue of their age, but who had served with Philip on his campaigns and had been victorious in many battles 17.27.2were roused by the emergency to show their valour, and, being far superior in pride and war experience, sharply rebuked the faintheartedness of the youngsters who wished to avoid the battle. Then they closed ranks with their shields overlapping and confronted the foe, who thought himself already victorious. 17.27.3They succeeded in slaying Ephialtes and many others, and finally forced the rest to take refuge in the city. 17.27.4Night had already fallen as the Macedonians pushed within the walls along with their fleeing enemies, but the king ordered the trumpeter to sound the recall and they withdrew to their camp. ^note 17.27.5Memnon, however, assembled his generals and satraps, held a meeting, and decided to abandon the city. ^note They installed their best men in the acropolis with sufficient provision and conveyed the rest of the army and the stores to Cos. 17.27.6When Alexander at daybreak learned what had taken place he razed the city and surrounded the citadel with a formidable wall and trench. ^note A portion of his force under certain generals he dispatched into the interior with orders to subdue the neighbouring tribes. ^note

These commanders, campaigning vigorously, subdued the whole region as far as greater Phrygia, supporting their men on the land. 17.27.7Alexander, for his part, overran the littoral as far as Cilicia, acquiring many cities and actively storming and reducing the strong points. One of these he captured surprisingly with such a curious reversal of fortune that the account of it cannot be omitted. ^note

ch. 28 17.28.1Near the frontiers of Lycia there is a great rock fortress ^note of unusual strength inhabited by people named Marmares. As Alexander marched by, these people attacked the Macedonian rear guard and killed many, carrying off as booty numerous men and pack animals. 17.28.2The king was enraged at this, established a siege, and exerted every effort to take the place by force. The Marmares were very brave and had confidence in the strength of their fortifications, and manfully withstood the attack. For two whole days there were constant assaults and it was clear that the king would not leave until he had captured the "rock."

17.28.3First, then, the older men of the Marmares advised their younger countrymen to end their resistance and make peace with the king on whatever terms were possible. They would have none of this, however, but all were eager to die together simultaneously with the end of the freedom of their state, so next the elders urged upon them that they should kill with their own hands their children and wives and aged relatives, and those who were strong enough to save themselves should break out through the midst of the enemy at night and take refuge in the neighbouring mountain. 17.28.4The young men agreed, and consequently gave orders to go each to his own house and there, enjoying the best of food and drink with their families, await the dread event. Some of them, however (these were about six hundred), decided not to kill their relatives with their own hands, but to burn them in the houses, and so issuing forth from the gates to make their way to the mountain. 17.28.5These carried out their decision and so caused each family to be entombed at its own hearth, while they themselves slipped through the midst of the enemy encamped about them and made their way to the near-by hills under cover of darkness.

This is what happened in this year.

ch. 29 ^note

17.29.1When Nicocrates was archon at Athens, Caeso Valerius and Lucius Papirius became consuls at Rome. ^note In this year Dareius sent money to Memnon and appointed him commanding general of the whole war.