Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XVIII - The Library of History



Page 587 the Arch, about the midway in the length, was artificially fix'd a Pole, by the help whereof the Arch might (in rough places, and where it was apt to be shaken) be preserv'd from being over-turn'd. There were four Draught-Trees, to every of which were fix'd four Courses of Yoaks, and to every Course were bound four Mules, so that the Mules were sixty four in number, the choicest for Strength and Largeness that could be got: Every Mule was adorn'd with a Crown of Gold, and Bells of Gold on either side their Heads; and on their Necks were fitted Rich Collars set and beautified with precious Stones.

And in this manner was the Charriot set forth, the Sight of which was more stately and pompous than the Report; so that the Fame of it brought together Multitudes of Spectators: For the People out of every City where-ever it was coming met it, and ran back again before it, never satisfy'd with the Delight they took in viewing and gazing. And suitable to so stately a Show, a vast Company of Workmen and Pioneers (that plain'd the Ways for its passage) attended it.

And thus Arrideus (who had spent two Years in Preparations) brought the King's Body from Babylon to Aegypt. Ptolemy, in Honour of the King met the Corps with his Army as far as Syria, where he receiv'd it, and accompanyd it with great Care and Observance: For he had resolv'd not as yet to conduct it to the Temple of Hammon, but to keep the Body in the City which Alexander himself had built, the most Famous almost of any City in the World. To this end he built a Temple in Honour of Alexander, in Greatness and Stateliness of Structure becoming the Glory and Majesty of that King; and in this Repository he laid the Body, and honour'd the Exequies of the Dead with Sacrifices and magnificent Shows, agreeable to the State of a Demi God. Upon which account he was deservedly Honour'd, not only by Men, but by the Gods Themselves: For by his Bounty and Generosity he so gain'd upon Men, as they flock'd from all Parts to Alexandria, and chearfully listed themselves into his Service, notwithstanding the King's Army was then preparing War against him: And though he was then in imminent Danger, yet all readily ventur'd their Lives to preserve him. And the Gods Themselves, for his Virtue, and kind and obliging Temper towards all, rescu'd him out of all his Hazards and Difficulties that seem'd insuperable: For Perdiccas, who before suspected the increase of his Power, had resolv'd (bringing the Kings along with him) of an Exepedition into Egypt with the Strength of his Army: To that end he had deliver'd to Eumenes a considerable Body of Men, with sufficient number of brave Officers, with Command to march to the Hellespont, to stop the Passage of Antipater and Craterus over into Asia. Amongst the Commanders the most Illustrious were Alcetas his Brother, and Neoptolemus: But these he order'd in all things to be observant to Eumenes, because he was both a skilful and prudent General, and a constant and faithful Friend. Eumenes therefore, with the Forces deliver'd him, came to the Hellespont, and compleated his Army with Horse (rais'd out of his own Province lately gain'd) in which his Troops were before only deficient.

But after that Antipater and Craterus had transported their Army out of Europe, Neoptolemus, out of Envy to Eumenes (having a considerable Army of Macedonians under his Command) secretly sent Messengers to Antipater, and colleaguing with him, contriv'd how to intrap Eumenes; but his Treachery being discover'd, he was forc'd to fight, and in the Battel lost almost all his Men, and was very near being cut off himself. Eumenes being thus Conqueror (after this great Slaughter) join'd the rest of those that were left, to his own Army; and so did not only by this Victory increase his Forces, but strengthen'd himself with a great number of Macedonians that were excellent Soldiers. Neoptolemus fled off the Field with three hundred Horse, and went over to Antipater. Whereupon a Consultation was had between them, in reference to the Concerns of the War; in which it was determin'd to divide the Army into two Bodies; one to march under Antipater into Cilicia to fight with Perdiccas, and the other with Craterus to fall upon Eumenes; and when he was routed, then Craterus to return to Antipater; that so the whole Army being join'd together in one Body, and having Ptolemy their Confederate, they might be better able to deal with the King's Army.

Eumenes having Intelligence of the Enemy's march, gather'd Forces together from all Parts, especially Horse; for because he had not Foot able to cope with the Macedonian Phalanx, he rais'd a great Body of Horse, by whose assistance he hop'd to be in a Condition to overcome the Enemy.

And now at length the Armies drew near one to another; whereupon Craterus drew up his Men together, in order, by a set Speech to encourage them to fight; in which Harangue he promis'd, That if they were Conquerors, they should have all the Pillage of


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