A Letter to Arrian (7) Of Kings and Men

My dear Arrian,
.
You state that 100,000 Persians were killed at the Battle of Issus. Can this figure possibly be true? I don’t see why not, although the fact that only 450 Macedonians are said to have died perhaps gives the game away. The reason why I do not dismiss the high figure out of hand is that 97 years before I write this letter to you, a battle took place in the country you know as Gaul, which saw over million men slaughtered. I understand, though, that fewer people lived in those days and that Ptolemy had good reason to exaggerate his casualty figures.
.
The image of the Macedonians crossing the ravine ‘on the bodies of the Persian dead’ is both evocative and awful to the imagination. I am very grateful, therefore, that we soon come to one of the sweetest moment’s in Alexander’s life: his identification of himself with Hepheastion when Sisygambis mistakes the two of them. You acknowledge that this scene may not have happened. I hope it did, or that it is at least based on an true understanding of what Alexander would have done in such a moment, for it reveals him to be a person of deep love and nobility.
.
The translator of your book has doubts as to whether Darius’ letter to Alexander is authentic. It certainly has a case to answer. I hope it isn’t, though, because the Great King’s expression of willingness to be Alexander’s friend and ally is rather embarrassing given that he has just lost a major battle to him. He is not at all in a position to be making those kind of requests.
.
In his response, Alexander refers to God rather than the gods. He did not believe in one god, though, and neither did you; yet, why would the translator of your book refer to one if you had referred to many?
.
You pass over Alexander’s visit to Sidon quickly, but I cannot without commenting on what happened there, for Alexander once more showed how he greatly esteemed Hephaestion by inviting him to nominate whoever he wanted for the kingship. He chose a man named Abdalonymus, a prince by birth but one who had fallen into poverty. So much about this scene is fantastic but yet so - I don’t know - authentically Alexander-like! Perhaps my only surprise should be that he doesn’t act like this more often. I must say that Alexander’s conversation with the new king reminds me very much of his meeting with Diogenes. Alexander had Abdalonymus brought before him, and,

… after gazing at him for a long time [Alexander] said: “Your bearing does not belie the report of your origin, but I am glad to know of the patience with which you have endured privation.” Then the new king replied: “I only hope that I may be able to endure sovereignty with the same spirit! these hands have been able to satisfy my desires; having nothing, I have lacked nothing.”
(Curtius 4. III. 25 - 26 Heinemann 1946)

Your friend,
.
φιλέλλην

The above picture is from Ancient History
.
An index of all the letters can be found here