Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s4.3

c9.s4.3

To get at this stronghold on the eastern frontier of the Assakenian country, Alexander had to move some way up the right bank of the Indus to Embolima (Amb), a city within two marches of Aornos. Here he ‘left Craterus with a part of the army to gather into the city as much corn as possible and all other requisites for a prolonged stay, in order that the Macedonians, having that place as a base, might by protracted investment wear out those holding the rock, in case it should not be taken at the first assault. Alexander himself then advanced to the rock, taking with him the archers, the Agrianians, the brigade of Koinos, the lightest and best armed of the phalanx, two hundred of the companion cavalry and one hundred horse-archers’. He fixed his camp on the second day very near the rock.