Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/101

 THE ARMY CROSSING INTO ASIA. 69 pias with the greatest respect ; trying howeyer to restrain her from meddling with political affairs, and complaining sometimes of her imperious exigencies and violence.^ The army intended for Asia, having been assembled at Pella, was conducted by Alexander himself first to Amphipolis, where it crossed the Strymon ; next along the road near the coast to the river Nestus and to the towns of Abdera and Maroneia ; then through Thrace across the rivers Hebrus and Melas ; lastly, through the Thracian Chersonese to Sestos. Here it was met by his fleet, consisting of 1 GO triremes, with a number of trading vessels besides ; ^ made up in large proportions from contingents furnished by Athens and Grecian cities.^ The passage of the whole army, infantry, cavalry, and machines, on ships, across the strait from Sestos in Europe to Abydos in Asia, — was superin- tended by Parmenio, and accomplished without either difficulty or resistance. But Alexander himself, separating from the army at Sestos, went down to Elaeus at the southern extremity of the Chersonese. Here stood the chapel and sacred precinct of the hero Protesilaus, who was slain by Hektor ; having been the first Greek (according to the legend of the Trojan war) who touched the shore of Troy. Alexander, whose imagination was then full of Homeric reminiscences, ofiered sacrifice to the hero, praying that his own disembarkation might terminate more aus- piciously. He then sailed across in the admiral's trireme, steering with his own hand, to the landing place near Ilium called the Harbor of the Achgeans. At mid-channel of the strait, he sacrificed a bull, with libations out of a golden goblet, to Poseidon and the Nereids. Himself too in full armor, he was the first (Uke Pro- ' Plutarch, Alexand. 25—39 ; Arrian, vii. 12, 12. He was wont to say, that his mother exacted from him a heavy house-rent for his domicile of ten months. Kleopatra also (sister of Alexander and daughter of Olympias) exercised considerable influence in the government.. Dionysius, despot of the Pontic Ilerakleia, maintained himself against opposition in his government, during Alexander's life, mainly by paying assiduous court to her (Memnon. Heracl. c. 4. ap. Photium, Cod. 224). ' The Athenians furnished twenty shv,os of war, Diodor. xvii. 22.
 * Arrian, i. 11, 9.