Ivan Yefremov - Thais of Athens

“How can you know this?”

“I can and I do. We are all initiated in the ancient knowledge of Kibela about the mysteries of the moon’s influence upon a person. Everything in a woman’s body depends on it. You won’t have anything. You met with the king at such a time when all is allowed.”

“Why are we, who are taught all the wisdom of feminine art, not taught this?” Thais asked with astonishment.

“Because this knowledge is secret. A woman must not be free from the power of Gaea-Kibela. Otherwise humankind will vanish.”

“Would you perhaps tell me this secret?”

“Yes. You serve another goddess, but her purposes are the same as those of the Great Mother. And while I am with you, I will always tell you which days will have no consequences.”

“While you are with me. But when you are not …”

“I shall be with you till death, Mistress. I shall tell you everything before I die.”

“Who is getting ready to die here?” a merry voice rang out.

Thais squealed with joy and dashed to meet Hesiona. The two women hugged and held each other for a long time. Both of them had waited for this reunion ever since Thais had gone one way on horseback and Hesiona had headed in the opposite direction aboard a ship.

The Athenian dragged her friend out to the veranda where there was still some sunlight left.

“The Daughter of the Snake”, as she had once been nicknamed by a jealous Clonaria, had lost a lot of weight. Her face and hands were wind-bitten and her hair was cut short, as if she were a fugitive slave or a wife punished for being unfaithful.

“You look awful,” Thais exclaimed. “Nearchus will find someone else. There are plenty of seductresses here in Babylon.”

“No, he won’t,” the Theban replied. There was so much certainty and calm in her voice that the hetaera felt he really wouldn’t.

“Are you here for long?” Thais asked, gently patting her friend’s coarse hand.

“Yes. After the victory at Gaugamela, Nearchus is planning to build a dock and a port here. He will sail to Arabia, but not for long and without me. It is so wonderful, my star. The final victory.”

“Not so. Not everything is over with Persia yet. And then, as far as I understand Alexander, there is still the long march to the edges of Ecumene. You and I probably won’t get to go there. We will remain behind.”

“I don’t like Babylon. It is a decaying city of former glory. I have yet to find a home here.”

“With Nearchus?”

“Nearchus is going to live near the ships and come here to visit.”

“Then stay with me. There is plenty of room.”

“Thais, phile [30] Friend ,” Hesiona said, smiling gratefully. “This is the best I could think of, to find you and stay with you. I don’t even have a servant.”

“We’ll find someone. Mine are not from Babylon but from far away.”

“This black one is interesting. What is her name?”

“Eris.”

“What a terrible name: the goddess of discourse from the dark world.”

“They all have names like that where she is from. She is a former priestess, like you, but a fallen one, not enslaved. She served the menacing Mother of Gods. I shall tell you about her later. First I want to hear about your voyage.”

“Very well.” Hesiona frowned, looking uncertain. “You know, Eris has strange eyes.”

“Ah, you noticed.”

“She seems to contain all of feminine depth, as dark as described in the ancient myths, and at the same time she appears hungry for all things new and beautiful.”

Thais shook her head. “But enough about the slave girl. Tell me about yourself.”

Hesiona’s story was brief. Her journey had been much simpler than that of Thais. At first she had accompanied Nearchus up the Euphrates, where lumber was being prepared in a hurry for the construction of ships. Then they traveled around several Syrian cities to look for older, properly dried lumber. Countless carts brought the lumber to the “royal road” before it was floated downriver to the lower Euphrates crossing. That was where Nearchus had set up the docks for navy ships.

“Just think of it. I sailed past them at night,” Thais exclaimed. “And didn’t even think of you.”

“I wasn’t there. After the news of the great victory, Nearchus sailed down the river and we visited the place where both of them come together, where swamps take up enormous areas. We will probably have to go back there again, and it is an inhospitable place.”

“Who directed you here, to Lugalgira?”

“Your hero, Leontiscus the Thessalian. He is so in love with you, my darling Thais.”

“I know,” Thais looked despondent. “And I cannot respond in kind. But he would agree to anything as long as he could be near me.”

“Thousands of other men would accept the same conditions. You are growing lovelier by the day and have never looked more beautiful.”

Much to Hesiona’s surprise, Thais burst into tears.

In a large throne hall of the Southern palace, constructed of dark blue glazed bricks with a pattern of yellow bars, Alexander presided over the council of his army officers. Ptolemy, who had only just arrived and barely managed to wash off the sweat and dust from the sun-scorched trip, reported treasures captured at Susa, a city which had surrendered without battle. Aside from silver, gold, and ornate armor and weapons, Susa contained scores of statues. These had been stolen by Xerxes from the pillaged Hellas, including the bronze group of Harmodius and Aristogeyton, the two assassins of tyrants. Alexander immediately ordered the sculpture to be sent to Athens. This pair of powerful warriors, stepping forward in unison with their swords raised, would inspire sculptors for centuries to come. It was a symbol of brotherhood and inspired purposefulness.

Ptolemy left all the treasures where they were under the protection of his soldiers, whose numbers were too small to fight in an open battle, but sufficient to protect the loot in a fortified city. Fifty thousand talants were kept in Susa. Silver mines of Alexander’s homeland couldn’t have produced that much in fifty years. According to the information gathered from Persians, the main gazaphilakia, or Persian state treasury, was located in Parsa, in the capital of kings of the Akhimenes dynasty. It was called Persepolis by the Greek geographers. There were no large armies at Parsa, as Darius was still in the north.

Alexander acted as swiftly as ever. In seven days he gathered the best of his cavalry, and his infantry was ordered to prepare to march toward Susa in three days. Provision carts were dispatched immediately. The main forces and the entire provision train was expected to travel slowly under Parmenius’ command.

Cool winter reigned in the valleys of Susa and Parsa, making this the best time for the march. There was plenty of food and water for the horses. Alexander gave strict orders for the thousands of actors, artists, women, servants and merchants accompanying the army to stay in Babylon. Nobody dared follow the lead detachment. Only after Parmenius’ troops and provision carts left would the inevitable army companions receive permission to travel toward Susa and Persepolis.

After the counsel, Alexander went to the temple of Marduk, where the priests serving the ancient gods of Babylon held a sacred ritual in his honor. The great conqueror sat on a throne in a place of honor next to the high priest. The priest was middle-aged, but not yet old man. He had a long, narrow, carefully arranged beard.

A procession of priestesses carried golden vessels on their heads, and fragrant blue smoke rose above them in small streams. They were adorned in red garments so light that the slightest breeze caused them to rise and flutter, akin to flashes of transparent fire.