Babilonia Y Alexander

On 21 or 22 October 331, Alexander entered Babylon, the old capital of the ancient Near East. The longest description is that of the Roman author Quintus Curtius Rufus, who based his account onearlier, Greek sources. It should be read together with a brief Babylonian eyewitness account, that mentions the date of the surrender. Section 5.1.17-33 of Curtius Rufus' History of Alexander the Great ofMacedonia was translated by John Yardley.

Moving on to Babylon, Alexander was met by Mazaeus, who had taken refuge in the city after the battle [of Gaugamela]. He came as a suppliant with hisgrown-up children to surrender himself and the city. Alexander was pleased at his coming, for besieging so well-fortified a city would have been an arduous task and, besides, since he was an eminent manand a good soldier who had also won distinction in the recent battle, Mazaeus' example was likely to induce the others to surrender. Accordingly Alexander gave him and his children a courteous welcome.Nevertheless, he put himself at the head of his column, which he formed into a square, and ordered his men to advance into the city as if they were going into battle.
A large number of theBabylonians had taken up a position on the walls, eager to have a view of their new king, but most went out to meet him, including the man in charge of the citadel and royal treasury, Bagophanes. Not to beoutdone by Mazaeus in paying his respects to Alexander, Bagophanes had carpeted the whole road with flowers and garlands and set up at intervals on both sides silver altars heaped not just withfrankincense but with all manner of perfumes [1]. Following him were his gifts - herds of cattle and horses, and lions, too, and leopards, carried along in cages.

Next came the Magians chanting a song intheir native fashion, and behind them were the Chaldaeans [2], then the Babylonians, represented not only by priests but also by musicians equipped with their national instrument. (The role of the...