Βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορική 17.95

17.95.1

κρίνας δʼ ἐπὶ ταύτης τοὺς ὅρους θέσθαι τῆς στρατείας πρῶτον μὲν τῶν δώδεκα θεῶν βωμοὺς πεντήκοντα πηχῶν ᾠκοδόμησεν, ἔπειτα τριπλασίαν τῆς προϋπαρχούσης στρατοπεδείαν περιβαλόμενος ὤρυξε τάφρον τὸ μὲν πλάτος πεντήκοντα ποδῶν, τὸ δὲ βάθος τεσσαράκοντα· τὴν δʼ ἀναβολὴν ἐντὸς τῆς τάφρου σωρεύσας τεῖχος ἀξιόλογον ᾠκοδόμησε.

He then resolved to set up marks to indicate the limits to which he had advanced; so first of all he built altars to the twelve gods of 50 cubits in height. Having next enclosed an encampment thrice the size of the one he occupied, he dug round it a trench 50 feet broad and 40 feet deep, and with the earth cast up from this trench he erected a rampart of extraordinary dimensions. He further ordered quarters to be constructed as for foot-soldiers, each containing two beds 5 cubits in length for each man, and besides this accommodation, two stalls of twice the ordinary size for each horseman. Whatever else was to be left behind was directed to be likewise proportionately increased in size. His object in all this was not merely to make a camp as for heroes, but at the same time to leave among the people of the country tokens of mighty men to show with what enormous bodily strength they were endowed. When these works were finished he retraced his steps with all his army to the river Akesines. On reaching it he found that the boats had been built, and when he had rigged these out, he ordered an additional number to be constructed. At this time there arrived from Greece allies and mercenaries led by the generals in command of the allies, amounting to more than 30,000 foot and not much less than 6000 cavalry. Splendid full suits of armour besides were brought for the infantry to the number of 25,000, and 100 talents of medicinal drugs, all which he distributed among the soldiers. When the equipment of the fleet was finished, and 200 boats without hatches and 800 tenders had been got ready, he proceeded to give names to the cities which had been founded on the banks of the river, calling one Nikaia in commemoration of his victory, and the other Boukephala after his horse that perished in the battle with Poros.

17.95.2

προσέταξε δὲ τοῖς μὲν πεζοῖς κατασκηνώσεις ἑκάστῳ δύο στιβάδας πενταπήχεις ἐχούσας οἰκοδομῆσαι, τοῖς δʼ ἱππεῦσι πρὸς ταύταις καὶ δύο φάτνας τῶν εἰθισμένων διπλασίας, ἀκολούθως δὲ καὶ τἄλλα τὰ καταλείπεσθαι μέλλοντα τοῖς μεγέθεσιν αὐξῆσαι. ταῦτα δὲ πράττειν ἤμελλεν, ἅμα μὲν ἡρωικὴν βουλόμενος ποιήσασθαι στρατοπεδείαν, ἅμα δὲ τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις ἀπολιπεῖν σημεῖα μεγάλων ἀνδρῶν, ἀποφαίνοντα ῥώμας σωμάτων ὑπερφυεῖς.

17.95.3

ἀπὸ δὲ τούτων γενόμενος μετὰ πάσης τῆς δυνάμεως ταῖς αὐταῖς ὁδοῖς πορευθεὶς ἀνέκαμψεν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀκεσίνην ποταμόν· καταλαβὼν δὲ τὰ σκάφη νεναυπηγημένα καὶ ταῦτα καταρτίσας ἕτερα προσεναυπηγήσατο.

17.95.4

κατὰ δὲ τοῦτον τὸν χρόνον ἧκον ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος σύμμαχοι καὶ μισθοφόροι διὰ τῶν στρατηγῶν ἠγμένοι, πεζοὶ μὲν πλείους τρισμυρίων, ἱππεῖς δʼ οὐ πολὺ λείποντες τῶν ἑξακισχιλίων, ἐκομίσθησαν δὲ καὶ πανοπλίαι διαπρεπεῖς πεζοῖς μὲν δισμυρίοις καὶ πεντακισχιλίοις, φαρμάκων δʼ ἰατρικῶν ἑκατὸν τάλαντα. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν διέδωκε τοῖς στρατιώταις.

17.95.5

τῆς δὲ ναυτικῆς παρασκευῆς συντελεσθείσης καὶ διακοσίων μὲν ἀφράκτων ἡτοιμασμένων, ὀκτακοσίων δὲ ὑπηρετικῶν τὰς μὲν παρὰ τὸν ποταμὸν κτισθείσας πόλεις ὠνόμασε τὴν μὲν διὰ τὸ τῷ πολέμῳ κρατῆσαι Νίκαιαν, τὴν δʼ ἀπὸ τοῦ τελευτήσαντος ἵππου κατὰ τὴν πρὸς Πῶρον μάχην Βουκεφάλαν.