 |
The Greek-Roman
author Polyaenus
was a younger contemporary of Arrian
of Nicomedia, and published a book on the Stratagems of war that was
to be used by the Roman emperor Lucius
Verus. In this book, he also dealt with the military tricks used by
Alexander
the Great. One of the chapters, however, does not deal with a real
stratagem, but illustrates the main problem of Alexander's reign - how
to be at the same time a ruler of Europeans, who wanted a simple style
of royal representation, and a great king of Asia.
The translation of Stratagems 4.3.24 was
made by Peter Krentz and Everett Wheeler.
|
|
Proskynesis; original relief
of
the northern
stairs of the
Apadana
at Persepolis
(National Archaeological
Museum, Tehran)
|
When deciding legal cases among the Macedonians
or the Greeks, Alexander preferred to have
a modest and common courtroom. but among the barbarians he preferred a
brilliant courtroom suitable for a general, astonishing the barbarians
even by the courtroom's appearance. When deciding cases among the Bactrians,
Hyrcanians,
and Indians, he had a tent made as follows: the tent was large enough for
100 couches [1]; fifty gold pillars supported it; embroidered
gold canopies, stretched out above, covered the place. Inside the tent
500 Persian Apple Bearers [2] stood first, dressed in
purple and yellow clothing. After the Apple Bearers stood an equal number
of archers in different clothing, for some wore flame-colored, some dark
blue, and some scarlet. In front of these stood Macedonian Silver Shields,
500 of the tallest men. In the middle of the room stood the gold throne,
on which Alexander sat to give audiences. Bodyguards stood on each side
when the king heard cases.
In a circle around the tent stood the corps of elephants Alexander had
equipped, and 1,000 Macedonians wearing Macedonian apparel. Next to these
were 500 Elamites dressed in purple, and after them, in a circle around
them, 10,000 Persians, the handsomest and tallest of them, adorned with
Persian decorations, and all carrying short
swords. Such was Alexander's courtroom among the barbarians.
|
|
The Hall of the Hundred
Columns at Persepolis, an
Apadana
|
[1]
In fact, we are dealing with some sort of pavilion, not unlike the
enormous tents that the Persians built, and that inspired the architecture
of their "apadana's", audience halls.
[2]
Elite soldiers. Their spears had a small metal counterweight
to balance the heavy point. Because this counterweight resembled an apple,
they received their remarkable surname. Several scholars believe they are
identical to the Immortals.
|
|
