ALLIANCE WITH THE SCYTHIANS AND CHORASMIANS.
Another embassy from the European Scythians came to Alexander with the
envoys whom he had despatched to those people; for the king who was
reigning over them at the time when he sent these envoys, happened
to die, and his brother was reigning in his stead. The object of the
embassy was to state that the Scythians were willing to do whatsoever
Alexander commanded. They were also bringing to him from their king
the gifts which among them are deemed most valuable. They said their
monarch was willing to give his daughter to Alexander in marriage, in
order to confirm the friendship and alliance with him; but if Alexander
himself deigned not to marry the princess of the Scythians, then he
was willing at any rate to give the daughters of the viceroys of the
Scythian territory and of the other mighty men throughout the country
of Scythia to the most faithful of Alexander’s officers. He also sent
word that he would come in person if bidden, in order to hear from
Alexander’s own mouth what his orders were. At this time also came
Pharasmanes, king of the Chorasmians,[569] to Alexander with 1,500
horsemen, who affirmed that he dwelt on the confines of the nations
of the Colchians and the women called Amazons,[570] and promised,
if Alexander was willing to march against these nations in order to
subjugate the races in this district whose territories extended to the
Euxine Sea, to act as his guide through the mountains and to supply
his army with provisions. Alexander then gave a courteous reply to
the men who had come from the Scythians, and one that was adapted to
the exigencies of that particular time; but said that he had no need
of a Scythian wedding. He also commended Pharasmanes and concluded a
friendship and alliance with him, saying that at present it was not
convenient for him to march towards the Euxine Sea. After introducing
Pharasmanes as a friend to Artabazus the Persian, to whom he had
intrusted the government of the Bactrians,[571] and to all the other
viceroys who were his neighbours, he sent him back to his own abode.
He said that his mind at that time was engrossed by the desire of
conquering the Indians; for when he had subdued them, he should possess
the whole of Asia. He added that when Asia was in his power he would
return to Greece, and thence make an expedition with all his naval and
military forces to the eastern extremity of the Euxine Sea through the
Hellespont and Propontis.[572] He desired Pharasmanes to reserve the
fulfilment of his present promises until then.
Alexander then returned to the river Oxus, with the intention of
advancing into Sogdiana, because news was brought that many of the
Sogdianians had fled for refuge into their strongholds and refused
to submit to the viceroy whom he had placed over them. While he was
encamping near the river Oxus, a spring of water and near it another
of oil rose from the ground not far from Alexander’s own tent. When
this prodigy was announced to Ptolemy, son of Lagus, the confidential
body-guard, he told Alexander, who offered the sacrifices which the
prophets directed on account of the phenomenon. Aristander affirmed
that the spring of oil was the sign of labours; but it also signified
that after the labours there would be victory.