Antiochus Moves into Hyrcania
Having rested his army at this place, and having
convinced himself that, had Arsaces been able to give him
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battle, he would not have abandoned his own country, nor have
sought a ground more favourable to his own army
for fighting him than the district round Hecatompylos; he concluded that, since he had done so,
it stood to reason that he had entirely changed
his mind. note He therefore decided to advance into Hyrcania.
But having arrived at Tagae, he learnt from the natives that
the country he had to cross, until he reached the ridges of
Mount Labus sloping down into Hyrcania, was exceedingly
rough and difficult, and that large numbers of barbarians were
stationed at the narrowest points. He therefore resolved to
divide his light-armed troops into companies, and distribute
their officers among them, giving them directions as to
the route they were severally to take. He did the same
with the pioneers, whose business it was to make the positions
occupied by the light-armed possible of approach for the
phalanx and beasts of burden. Having made these arrangements, he entrusted the first division to Diogenes, strengthening
him with bowmen and slingers and some mountaineers skilled
in throwing javelins and stones, and who, without keeping
any regular order, were always ready to skirmish at a
moment's notice, and in any direction, and rendered the most
effective assistance at the narrow passes. Next to these he
ordered a company of about two thousand Cretans armed with
shields to advance, under the command of Polyxenidas of
Rhodes. The rear was to be brought up by companies armed
with breastplate and shield, and commanded by Nicomedes of
Cos, and Nicolaus the Aetolian.
