The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c13.30

c13.30

But, if Curtius and Diodorus are to be believed, the noble simplicity of the monumental altars was marred by a ridiculous addition designed to gratify the king's childish vanity. The tale is given in its fullest form by Diodorus, who gravely informs us that after the completion of the altars, Alexander caused an encampment to be made thrice the size of that actually occupied by his army, encircled by a trench 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep, as well as by a rampart of extraordinary dimensions. 'He further', the story continues, 'ordered quarters to be constructed as for foot-soldiers, each containing two beds 4 cubits in length for each man; and besides this, 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.' We are asked to believe that these silly proceedings were intended to convince the country people that the invaders had been men of more than ordinary strength and stature.¹