Ancient Literature: Significant Excerpts from the Books of Classical Authors Which You Can Use to Supplement Your History Curriculum, Volume Two – Alexander the Great
Use primary sources to enhance your study of ancient history.
This 94-page ebook can be used to supplement any ancient history curriculum and is suitable for ages ten through adult. For this volume, we combed through the books of twelve ancient authors to find 44 significant excerpts concerning Alexander the Great. We then arranged the excerpts chronologically and provided the text and citation for each.
Below here we have included only a small portion of the contents of Ancient Literature: Significant Excerpts from the Books of Classical Authors Which You Can Use to Supplement Your History Curriculum, Volume Two – Alexander the Great
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
7.1-3; 8.1-5 Philip hires Aristotle to teach Alexander
7 And since Philip saw that his son’s nature was unyielding and that he resisted compulsion, but was easily led by reasoning into the path of duty, he himself tried to persuade rather than to command him; 2 and because he would not wholly entrust the direction and training of the boy to the ordinary teachers of poetry and the formal studies, feeling that it was a matter of too great importance, and, in the words of Sophocles,
“A task for many bits and rudder-sweeps as well,”
he sent for the most famous and learned of philosophers, Aristotle, and paid him a noble and appropriate tuition-fee. 3 The city of Stageira, that is, of which Aristotle was a native, and which he had himself destroyed, he peopled again, and restored to it those of its citizens who were in exile or slavery.
8 Moreover, in my opinion Alexander’s love of the art of healing was inculcated in him by Aristotle preeminently. For he was not only fond of the theory of medicine, but actually came to the aid of his friends when they were sick, and prescribed for them certain treatments and regimens, as one can gather from his letters. 2 He was also by nature a lover of learning and a lover of reading. And since he thought and called the Iliad a viaticum of the military art, he took with him Aristotle’s recension of the poem, called the Iliad of the Casket, and always kept it lying with his dagger under his pillow, as Onesicritus informs us; 3 and when he could find no other books in the interior of Asia, he ordered Harpalus to send him some. So Harpalus sent him the books of Philistus, a great many of the tragedies of Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus, and the dithyrambic poems of Telestes and Philoxenus. 4 Aristotle he admired at the first, and loved him, as he himself used to say, more than he did his father, for that the one had given him life, but the other had taught him a noble life; later, however, he held him in more or less of suspicion, not to the extent of doing him any harm, but his kindly attentions lacked their former ardour and affection towards him, and this was proof of estrangement. 5 However, that eager yearning for philosophy which was imbedded in his nature and which ever grew with his growth, did not subside from his soul, as is testified by the honour in which he held Anaxarchus, by his gift of fifty talents to Xenocrates, and by the attentions which he so lavishly bestowed upon Dandamis and Calanus.
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
17.1-7 How Alexander, having succeeded to the throne, disposed affairs of his kingdom
1.3 Alexander accomplished great things in a short space of time, and by his acumen and courage surpassed in the magnitude of his achievements all kings whose memory is recorded from the beginning of time. 4 In twelve years he conquered no small part of Europe and practically all of Asia, and so acquired a fabulous reputation like that of the heroes and demigods of old. …. 5 On his father’s side Alexander was a descendant of Heracles and on his mother’s he could claim the blood of the Aeacids, so that from his ancestors on both sides he inherited the physical and moral qualities of greatness. …
….6 But, for all the problems and fears that beset his kingdom on every side, Alexander, who had only just reached manhood, brought everything into order impressively and swiftly. Some he won by persuasion and diplomacy, others he frightened into keeping the peace, but some had to be mastered by force and so reduced to submission…..
4 In order to overawe those who refused to yield otherwise, he set out at the head of the army of the Macedonians in full battle array. With forced marches he arrived in Boeotia and encamping near the Cadmeia threw the city of the Thebans into a panic. 5 As the Athenians immediately learned that the king had passed into Boeotia, they too abandoned their previous refusal to take him seriously. So much the rapid moves and energetic action of the young man shook the confidence of those who opposed him. 6 The Athenians, accordingly, voted to bring into the city their property scattered throughout Attica and to look to the repair of their walls, but they also sent envoys to Alexander, asking forgiveness for tardy recognition of his leadership.
7 Even Demosthenes was included among the envoys; he did not, however, go with the others to Alexander, but turned back at Cithaeron and returned to Athens, whether fearful because of the anti-Macedonian course that he had pursued in politics, or merely wishing to leave no ground of complaint to the king of Persia. 8 He was generally believed to have received large sums of money from that source in payment for his efforts to check the Macedonians, and indeed Aeschines is said to have referred to this in a speech when he taunted Demosthenes with his venality: “At the moment, it is true, his extravagance has been glutted by the king’s gold, but even this will not satisfy him; no wealth has ever proved sufficient for a greedy character.” 9 Alexander addressed the Athenian envoys kindly and freed the people from their acute terror.
5.1 Now that we have described what took place in Greece, we shall shift our account to the events in Asia. Here, immediately after the death of Philip, Attalus actually had set his hand to revolt and had agreed with the Athenians to undertake joint action against Alexander, but later he changed his mind. Preserving the letter which had been brought to him from Demosthenes, he sent it off to Alexander and tried by expressions of loyalty to remove from himself any possible suspicion. 2 Hecataeus, however, following the instructions of the king literally, had him killed by treachery, and thereafter the Macedonian forces in Asia were free from any incitement to revolution, Attalus being dead and Parmenion completely devoted to Alexander……
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
6.1-8 Alexander tames Bucephalus
Philonicus the Thessalian brought the horse Bucephalus to Philip, offering to sell him for thirteen talents; but when they went into the field to try him, they found him so very vicious and unmanageable, that he reared up when they endeavoured to mount him, and would not so much as endure the voice of any of Philip’s attendants. Upon which, as they were leading him away as wholly useless and untractable, Alexander, who stood by, said, “What an excellent horse do they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him!” Philip at first took no notice of what he said; but when he heard him repeat the same thing several times, and saw he was much vexed to see the horse sent away, “Do you reproach,” said he to him, “those who are older than yourself, as if you knew more, and were better able to manage him than they?” “I could manage this horse,” replied he, “better than others do.” “And if you do not,” said Philip, “what will you forfeit for your rashness?” “I will pay,” answered Alexander, “the whole price of the horse.” At this the whole company fell a-laughing; and as soon as the wager was settled amongst them, he immediately ran to the horse, and taking hold of the bridle, turned him directly towards the sun, having, it seems, observed that he was disturbed at and afraid of the motion of his own shadow; then letting him go forward a little, still keeping the reins in his hands, and stroking him gently when he found him begin to grow eager and fiery, he let fall his upper garment softly, and with one nimble leap securely mounted him, and when he was seated, by little and little drew in the bridle, and curbed him without either striking or spurring him. Presently, when he found him free from all rebelliousness, and only impatient for the course, he let him go at full speed, inciting him now with a commanding voice, and urging him also with his heel. Philip and his friends looked on at first in silence and anxiety for the result, till seeing him turn at the end of his career, and come back rejoicing and triumphing for what he had performed, they all burst out into acclamations of applause; and his father shedding tears, it is said, for joy, kissed him as he came down from his horse, and in his transport said, “O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.”
Josephus
Antiquities of the Jews
11.8.3 Alexander begins the siege of Tyre and asks for provisions from the Jews (333 B.C.)
3. …….So Alexander came into Syria, and took Damascus; and when he had obtained Sidon, he besieged Tyre, when he sent all epistle to the Jewish high priest, to send him some auxiliaries, and to supply his army with provisions; and that what presents he formerly sent to Darius, he would now send to him, and choose the friendship of the Macedonians, and that he should never repent of so doing. But the high priest answered the messengers, that he had given his oath to Darius not to bear arms against him; and he said that he would not transgress this while Darius was in the land of the living. Upon hearing this answer, Alexander was very angry; and though he determined not to leave Tyre, which was just ready to be taken, yet as soon as he had taken it, he threatened that he would make an expedition against the Jewish high priest, and through him teach all men to whom they must keep their oaths. So when he had, with a good deal of pains during the siege, taken Tyre, and had settled its affairs, he came to the city of Gaza, and besieged both the city and him that was governor of the garrison, whose name was Babemeses.
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
4.4.1-5 Sea Monster found at Tyre
At this point Alexander from utter weariness had determined to raise the siege and go to Egypt. For after he had overrun Asia with great speed he was lingering around the walls of a single city, thus losing the opportunity for so many mighty exploits. But he was as much ashamed to withdraw baffled, as to delay, thinking that his reputation also, by which he had overthrown more than by his arms, would be impaired if he should leave Tyre as a witness that he could be defeated. Therefore, in order to leave nothing untried, he ordered more ships to be brought up and the best of his soldiers to be embarked upon them. And it chanced that a sea-monster, of a size never before seen, rising even above the waves with its back, brought its huge body up to the causeway which the Macedonians had built, and striking the surges asunder as it lifted itself, was seen by both sides. Then from the peak of the causeway it again plunged under the sea, and now rising above the surface with a great part of its bulk, now hidden as the waves dashed over it, it disappeared under water not far from the walls of the city. The appearance of the monster gave joy to both sides; the Macedonians interpreted it as showing the direction in which to go on building up the work; the Tyrians thought that Neptune, as an avenger of the usurped sea, had brought the monster against the causeway, and that it would surely soon fall in ruins.
Daniel
Bible
8.5-7 Daniel foretells of Alexander the Great
5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. 7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
Strabo
Ancient Geography
15.1.28 Snakes found in India
28 Between the Indus and the Hydaspes is Taxila, a large city, and governed by good laws. The neighbouring country is crowded with inhabitants and very fertile, and here unites with the plains. The people and their king Taxiles received Alexander with kindness, and obtained in return more presents than they had offered to Alexander; so that the Macedonians became jealous, and observed, that it seemed as if Alexander had found none on whom he could confer favours before he passed the Indus. Some writers say that this country is larger than Egypt. Above this country among the mountains is the territory of Abisarus, who, as the ambassadors that came from him reported, kept two serpents, one of 80, and the other, according to Onesicritus, of 140 cubits in length. This writer may as well be called the master fabulist as the master pilot of Alexander. For all those who accompanied Alexander preferred the marvellous to the true, but this writer seems to have surpassed all in his description of prodigies. Some things, however, he relates which are probable and worthy of record, and will not be passed over in silence even by one who does not believe their correctness. Other writers also mention the hunting of serpents in the Emodi mountains, and the keeping and feeding of them in caves.
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
17.89.1-6; 17.90.1, 4-7 Snakes found in India
89. Many were slain in their flight, but then Alexander, satisfied with his brilliant victory, ordered the trumpets to sound the recall. Of the Indians, there fell in the battle more than twelve thousand, among whom were the two sons of Porus and his best generals and officers. Above nine thousand men were taken alive, together with eighty elephants. Porus himself was still breathing, and was turned over to the Indians for medical attention. On the Macedonian side, the losses were two hundred and eighty cavalry and more than seven hundred infantry. The king buried the dead, rewarded those who had distinguished themselves in accordance with their deserts, and sacrificed to Helius who had given him the eastern regions to conquer. There were mountains not far away where grew thriving firs in quantity, together with no little cedar and pine and an ample supply of other woods suitable for shipbuilding, and Alexander constructed a large number of ships. He intended to reach the borders of India and to subdue all of its inhabitants, and then to sail downstream to the Ocean. He founded two cities, one beyond the river where he had crossed and the other on the spot where he had defeated Porus. These were built quickly because there was a plentiful supply of labour. When Porus had recovered, Alexander appointed him, in recognition of his valour, king over the country where he formerly ruled. The Macedonian army rested for thirty days in the midst of a vast plenty of provisions.
90. Odd phenomena were observed in these mountains. In addition to the wood for shipbuilding, the region contained a large number of snakes remarkable for their size; they reached a length of sixteen cubits…..Sasibisares, the king who had not moved in time to help Porus in the battle, was frightened, and Alexander forced him to accept his orders. Then Alexander resumed his march to the east, crossed the river, and continued on through a region of remarkable fertility. It possessed strange kinds of trees which reached a height of seventy cubits, were so thick that they could scarcely be embraced by four men, and cast a shadow of three plethra. This country possessed a multitude of snakes, small and variously coloured. Some of them looked like bronze rods, others had thick, shaggy crests, and their bites brought sudden death. The person bitten suffered fearful pains and was covered with a bloody sweat. The Macedonians, who were much affected by the bites, slung their hammocks from trees and remained awake most of the night. Later, however, they learned from the natives the use of a medicinal root and were freed from these fears.
Entire contents of this ebook:
Claudius Aelianus — NAME OF AUTHOR
Various History — TITLE OF BOOK
Aelianus mistakenly reports that Alexander was born and died on same day of month — DESCRIPTION OF SIGNIFICANT EXCERPT
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Alexander born on the sixth day of the month — Hecatombaeon
Aulus Gellius
Attic Nights
A letter of Philip to Aristotle with regard to the recent birth of his son Alexander
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Alexander tames Bucephalus
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Philip hires Aristotle to teach Alexander
Justin
Epitome of Pompeius Trogus
Commencement of Alexander’s reign; he prepares to invade Persia
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
How Alexander, having succeeded to the throne, disposed affairs of his kingdom
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Alexander destroys Thebes (335 B.C.)
Claudius Aelianus
Various History
Alexander destroys all in Thebes except the houses of the priests and of Pinder
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander crosses over to Asia (334 B.C.)
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander defeats the Persians in the Battle of Granicus (334 B.C.)
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grcians and Romans: Alexander
Plutarch’s version of the Battle of Granicus
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Alexander proclaims liberty to all the Greek cities
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander defeats Darius in the Battle of Issus (333 B.C.)
Josephus
Antiquities of the Jews
Alexander begins the siege of Tyre and asks for provisions from the Jews (333 B.C.)
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Siege of Tyre
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
Sea monster found at Tyre
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
The fall of Tyre
Isaiah
Bible
The prophet Isaiah foretells the final destruction of Tyre by Alexander the Great
Justin
Epitome of Pompeius Trogus
Darius offer Alexander a deal
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander takes Gaza (332 B.C.)
Josephus
Antiquities of the Jews
Alexander enters Jerusalem in peace
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
The founding of Alexandria by Alexander (332 B.C.)
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Battle of Gaugamela (331 B.C.)
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Battle of Gaugamela
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Darius escapes
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Alexander conquers Babylon and Susa
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
Alexander enters Babylon
Plutarch
The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Alexander
Alexander amazed by a chasm in the earth in Batana
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Alexander destroys Persepolis (331 B.C.)
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Death of Darius (330 B.c.)
Daniel
Bible
Daniel foretells of Alexander the Great
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander enters India; How Alexander constructed his bridge over the river Indus (327 B.C.)
Strabo
Ancient Geography
Snakes found in India
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
Description of India
Diodorus Siculus
Historical Library
Snakes found in India
Aulus Gellius
Attic Nights
About the horse of King Alexander, called Bucephalas
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Death of Alexander’s horse Bucephalas (327 B.C.)
Pliny the Elder
Natural History
The Indian fig
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander wounded
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
March through Gadrosia (326 B.C.)
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Alexander in Persis; tomb of Cyrus repaired
Arrian
Anabasis of Alexander
Death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.)
Quintus Curtius
History of Alexander
Events immediately after Alexander’s death
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