The Classical Accounts of India c6.s6.2

c6.s6.2

Both Arrian and Curtius Rufus refer to the capture of an Aspasian city by Alexander (8, 107). According to the former, Alexander's soldiers, 'being enraged because the besieged had wounded Alexander, slew all whom they took prisoners'. But according to Curtius, 'Alexander massacred all the inhabitants in order to strike terror into the people', and he had previously issued this order, which was thus a part of his policy! There is also serious divergence between the two writers regarding the route followed by Alexander after this incident According to Curtius, Alexander next conquered Nysa, and then proceeded to Massaga and Aornus. But Arrian places these expeditions, and many others, before he reached Nysa. As regards the capture of Massaga, Curtius emphasizes the role played by the movable towers (110), while Arrian makes no reference to them (13). Similarly, Arrian justifies the massacre of the Indian mercenaries at Massaga on the ground that they had treacherous intentions (13), but, according to Diodorus, Alexander treacherously attacked the mercenaries, being actuated by an "implacable enmity" against them (162). According to Arrian and Justin, the people of Nysa offered no resistance (20, 188), but Curtius says that 'the defenders risked an engagement (107). The detailed account of the fight and the strategy by which Aornus was conquered is given differently by Arrian (16-18), Curtius (111-12) and Diodorus (163-4).