Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/281

 ENVOYS TO ALEXANDER FROM REMOTE PARTS. 2411 Ethiopians, from the extreme south, beyond Egypt — Scythians from the north, beyond the Danube — Iberians and Gauls, from the far west, beyond the Mediterranean Sea. Legates also arrived from various Grecian cities, partly to tender congratula- tions and compliments upon his matcliless successes, partly to remonstrate against his sweeping mandate for the general re- storation of the Grecian exiles.^ It was remarked that these Grecian legates approached him with wreaths on their heads, tendering golden wreaths to him, — as if they were coming into the presence of a god.^ The proofs which Alexander received even from distant tribes with names and costumes unknown t< him, of fear for his enmity and anxiety for his favor, were sucl as had never been shown to any historical person, and such at entirely to explain his superhuman arrogance. In the midst of this exuberant pride and good fortune, however, dark omens and prophecies crowded upon him as he approached Babylon. Of these the most remarkable was, the warning of the Chaldean priests, who apprised him, soon after he crossed the Tigris, that it would be dangerous for him to enter that city, and exhorted him to remain outside of the gates. At first he was in- clined to obey ; but his scruples were overruled, either by argu- ments from the Greek sophist Anaxarchus, or by the shame of shutting himself out from the most memorable city of the em- Alexander the Great. Livy (ix. 18) conceives that the Romans knew nothing of Alexander even by report, but this appears to me not credible. On the whole, though the point is doubtful, I incline to believe the asser- tion of a Roman embassy to Alexander. Nevertheless, there were various false statements which afterwards became current about it — one of which may be seen in Meranon's history of the Pontic Herakleia ap. Photium, Cod. 224; Orelli Fragment. Memnon, p. 36. Kleitarchus (contemporary of Alexander), whom Pliny quotes, can have had no motive to insert falsely the name of Romans, which in his time was nowise important. 1 Arrian, vii. 15 : Justin, xii. 13 ; Diodor. xvii. 113. The story mentioned by Justin in another place (xxi. 6) is probably referable to this season of Alexander's career. A Carthaginian named Hamilkar Rhodanus, was sent by his city to Alexander ; really as an emissary to acquaint himself witii the king's real designs, which occasioned to the Carthaginians serious alarm — but under color of being an exile tendering bis services. Justin says that Parmenio introduced Hamilkar — which must, I think, be an error. * Arrian, vii. 19, 1 ; vii. 23, 3