Page 759 little before forsaking Astes, had fled over to Taxiles, which made Alexander the more confide in him ever after.
Alexander with his Band of Silver Targeteers, and the Horse of his Fellow Cavallers that went not with Hephestion, and the Troop of Horse call'd Asseteri, together with his Archers, Agrians, and Horse-Lancers, march'd into the Country of the Aspians and Phyraeans, and Arosacans; and going on his way to the River Choes (which was for the most part mountainous and rocky) and having at last past that River, he commanded Craterus to come after him fair and softly with the Foot; and himself taking with him the whole Body of his Horse, and eight hundred Macedonian Foot-Targeteers on Horseback, he march'd away at a great rate, because he heard that the People of the Country were fled, some to the Mountains, others to fenced Cities, and all to make head against him. Having set upon the first of these Cities that lay in his way, those which came forth to oppose him, he routed at the first Charge, and drave them back into the Town, but was himself wounded with a Dart in the Shoulder, which pierc'd thro' his Breast-plate; but the Wound was but slight, the Breast-plate repelling the force of the Dart. Ptolemy, Lagus, and Leonatus were likewise wounded. Then Alexander observing what part of the Wall was fittest to pitch upon for an Assault, encamp'd close to the City, just against that part. The next day early in the morning the Macedonians took the outward Wall with little ado, for the City was doubly wall'd. At the inner Wall the Inhabitants made some resistance; but when the Macedonians had once scal'd the Walls, and the Townsmen felt the Arrows showing down about their ears, not being able longer to endure, the Soldiers within brake out of the Gates, and ran every Man his way to the Mountains, many of whom the Macedonians kill'd in the pursuit; and all the Prisoners (being in a rage because the King was wounded) they put to the Sword. Many escap'd to the Mountains, which were not far off from the City. Having laid the City level with the Ground, he march'd away with his Army to Andaca another City.
IN this Region, into which Alexander entred, lying between the Rivers Cophone and Indus, is situated Nysa, a City built (as is reported) by Dionysius, at that time when he Commanded in India; who this Dionysius was, and when, or from whence he brought in his Armies against the Indians, I cannot conjecture: Whether it was the T •eban from Thebes, or he from Tmolus in Lydia, that led an Army from thence against the Indians. But though he pass'd into so many Warlike Nations, at that time altogether unknown to the Greeks, yet he subdu'd none of them but the Indians. This only I am satisfied in, That those Fables that the Ancients have writ concerning the Gods, are not too curiously to be pry'd into; for such Writings as do not otherwise deserve much Credit, yet when they happen to speak of the Gods, they seem not to be altogether incredible.
As soon as Alexander came with his Army to Nysa, they sent Acuphis, the Chief Man of the City to him, with thirty others of the Leading Men of the Place, intreating him to leave the City free to the God Bacchus. When the Ambassadors were introduc'd into the King's Pavilion, and saw him as yet dusty with his March, clad with all his Armour, and his Helmet upon his Head, and his Lance in his Hand; amaz'd at the sight of him, they fell flat upon the Ground, and were silent a long time together: But after that Alexander had commanded them to rise, and cheer up, Acuphis thus began:—The Nysaeans intreat, O King, That in reverence to Bacchus you would leave the City free, and the Inhabitants to Govern by their own Laws: For Dionysius, after he had conquer'd the Indians, and was about to return to the Grecian Sea, built this City for those Soldiers who were unserviceable for War (being of Bacchus's Family) as a perpetual Monument to Posterity of his Expedition and Victory; as your Majesty has built Alexandria at Mount Caucasus, and another in Egypt, and many others, some finish'd, and others now in building, having now perform'd much more than our Dionysius did: And he call'd the City Nysa, from his Nurse so nam'd, and the Country Nysaea; and the Mountain which hangs over the City, he was pleas'd to call Meros (which is a Thigh) because according to the Fables he was cherish'd in Jupiter's Thigh. Since that time we have dwelt in Nysa as a free City, and have liv'd at ease under the Use of our own Laws. And that this Place was built by Bacchus, this one thing may be a Demonstration, That Ivy grows no where in India but in this City. This Speech of Acuphis was very pleasing to Alexander; for he had a great desire those things should be believ'd that were related
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.