The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

6. How the Sogdians revolted the Third time, and how they were taken that betook themselves to the top of the Rock. Arrianus lib. IV.

AFterwards at the beginning of the Spring, he Marcht to a Rock to which he heard many of the Sogdians fled; and here it was said that the Wife and Daughters of * 1.1 Oxyartes had sheltred themselves. For Oxyartes plac'd them here as in a Hold that was Inexpugnable, he himself being one that had revolted from Alexander. And the King was the more earnest for that this Rock being taken, there appeared no Fort left in Sogdia that cou'd incourage them to a Defection. When he came to the Rock, he found it steep and inaccessable on every side, and that the Barbarians had brought in Provision for a long Siege, and that the depth of the Snow, as it made the Approach of the Ma∣ce••••mians more difficult, so it furnisht the Barbarians with plenty of Water. However Alexander resolv'd to assault the Rock. The Proud and Contemptuous answer likewise of the Barbarians stirr'd up Rage and Ambition in Alexander at one and the same time. For whereas at a Parly with them, he promis'd them that if they would Surrender, they should all have liberty to return safely home; they barbarously scoffed at him, and bid him seek some Soldiers that had Wings, who might so take the Rock, for they feared

no other Mortals. Upon which Alexander commanded Proclamation to be made by an Herald, that he would bestow 12 Talents as a reward upon him that should first mount the Rock, and so the second and the third, in their due order should every one receive a reward till it came to the last that ascended the Rock, who should receive 300 Daricks; the hopes of which reward stirr'd up the Macedonians, who were eager before to fall up∣on them of their own accord. Three hundred therefore of those that were accustom'd to climb Rocks, being drawn out, they furnish'd themselves with Cramp-Irons (where∣with they fastned their Tents) that they might fix them in the Snow where it was hard Frozen, and in other parts of the Rock where there was no Snow, and to them they tied strong Cords, and in the Night made to that part of the Rock that was steepest and highest, and therefore (as they conceiv'd) least guarded; and with the Cramps, some fastned in the Rock, and others in the Snow that was frozen, they scrambled up from place to place 'till they gain'd the Top: But of these, 30 perish'd in endeavouring to get up, so that their Bodies could not be found to be buried, being lost in the depth of the Snow; the rest about break of day recovered the top, and by shaking of the Lin∣nen Cloaths gave notice to the Army that they had gain'd the place, for that sign Alex∣ander had commanded them: Upon which a Trumpeter was forthwith sent out with command to the Barbarians that they should without any further delay surrender them∣selves, for that he had now found Soldiers that had Wings, who had possessed themselves of the top of the Rock; and at the same time the Soldiers that had gain'd the Rock, pre∣sented themselves in view to the Barbarians, who being amaz'd at such an unexpected sight, supposing them to be more, and better arm'd than indeed they were, gave up themselves; the sight of a few Macedonians was so terrible to 'em. There were there taken Prisoners many of the Wives and Children of the Barbarians, and amongst them the Wife and Daughters of Oxyartes. Oxyartes's Son likewise was about the Age of Nine Years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Curtius calls him Arimares lib. 7. c. 11. ••or by Strabo, Oxyartes had plac'd his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in S••••mithres Rich in Bactria where Alex∣ander Married ••••xana, one of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Strabo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11•• 517.