Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/209

 " HALT IN PERSIA. 177 their ferocity and cupidity had been satiated, Alexander arrest- ed the massacre. His encouragement and sanction of it was no+ a burst of transient fury, provoked by unexpected length of re- sistance, such as the hanging of the 2000 Tyrians and the drag- ging of Batis at Gaza — but a deliberate proceeding, intended partly as a recompense and gratification to the soldiery, but stiL more as an imposing manifestation of retributive vengeance against the descendants of the ancient Persian invaders. In his own letters seen by Plutarch, Alexander described the massacre of the native Persians as having been ordered by him on grounds of state policy.^ As it was now winter or very early spring, he suffered his main army to enjoy a month or more of repose at or near Per sepolis. But he himself, at the head of a rapidly moving divi- sion, traversed the interior of Persis proper ; conquering or re- ceiving into submission the various towns and villages.^ The greatest resistance which he experienced was offered by the the main features of the massacre and plunder in Persepolis, permitted to the soldiers of Alexander. Arrian does not mention it ; he mentions only the deliberate resolution of Alexander to burn the palace or citadel, out of revenge on the Persian name. And such feeling, assuming it to exist, would also naturally dictate the general license to plunder and massacre. Himself entertaining such vindictive feeling, and regarding it as legitimate, Alexander would either presume it to exist, or love to kindle it, in his sol- diers ; by whom indeed the license to plunder would be sufficiently wel- comed, with or without any antecedent sentiment of vengeance. The story (told by Diodorus, Curtius, and Plutarch, Alex. 38) that Alexander, in the drunkenness of a banquet, was first instigated by the courtesan Thais to set fire to the palace of Persepolis, and accompanied her to begin the conflagration with his own hand — may perhaps he so far true, that he really showed himself in the scene and helped in the burning. Put that his resolution to burn was deliberately taken, and even maintained against the opposition of esteemed officers, is established on the authority of Arrian. ' Plutarch, Alexand. 37. ^bvov ukv ovv ivravSa noXvv tuv uTiiaaofiEvuv yEVEG-daL avveneaE' y f)u(p e i yap av roc, wf vofti^uv avru tovt a ?i.vcjite?,eIv e k eXev ev u'!Toa6aTTe(y&ai Toi) g uv t& p utv ov g' vofiiafinror 6e Evpeiv tvX^&oc oaov iv ^ovaoic, ttjv 6e aKkrjv KaraGKev^v kuI TOv wXnvrov EKicofiiG^f/val (priGi [ivpioLg bpiKolg ^evyEGt, Kal TTEVTaKiaxMaii Ka/if/Tioig. That hravT^a means Persepolis, is shown by the immediately following comparison with the treasure found at Susa.
 * Diod. xvii. 73; Curtius, v. 6, 12-20.