Ivan Yefremov - Thais of Athens

Another Amazon rode a step behind the queen on a charcoal gray mare. The woman was dark-skinned, wore a silver helmet and carried silver weapons. A silver snake coiled in the center of her shield, and her wild, dark blue eyes peered from under the helmet, eternally watchful and ruthless. A short silver spear was clutched in her right hand. Her horse, bowed and danced, swishing her silver braided tail.

Alexander, with his officers and Amazons, rode slowly through the crowds toward the southern edge of Persepolis. There, on a smooth stretch of the valley, tents and seats were constructed for the guests, as well as a space for athletic competitions and a stage for actors and dancers. It was incredible how quickly magicians, famous musicians and gymnasts had managed to get here for the celebration.

At the intersection of two large streets, the wealthy Persians could be recognized by their colorful garments and the absence of women.

Wealthy female citizens, wrapped in light scarves, huddled against walls and fences, while female slaves almost threw themselves under the hooves, pushing men aside. Persian nobles openly admired the splendid horses and the majestic royal retinue.

“Look!” a tall, warlike man exclaimed, addressing a friend whose features betrayed a touch of Indian blood. “I thought the legend about Amazons was false. I thought they would have to be as crooked in the legs as the Massaget women, from horseback riding since childhood.”

“But now you see that the Amazon’s seat …”

“Is completely different.”

“Yes, their calves are not wrapped around the horse, but lie on the horse’s back, with their knees bent and heels resting on the spine.”

The half-Indian froze, gazing after the queen of Amazons who rode with Alexander into another district, where the street was even wider and more crowded.

“En aristera! To the left!”

The sudden, piercing yell of the dark-skinned Amazon startled everyone. The queen instantly covered herself with her shield. A heavy knife, thrown with great force, thudded loudly against it. The black Amazon’s horse dashed to the left, parting the crowds. Before anyone could grab the attacker, he had already collapsed on the ground with the spear thrust deeply behind the left collarbone. It was a strike from which there was no possible recovery. Thais recognized the training of Kibela’s temple.

After a moment, the enraged getaerosi burst into the crowd, crushing everyone in the way. They surrounded a group of spectators near the dead attacker and led them down a side street. Two of them tried to jump over the rope and were killed on the spot. The queen’s face showed no trace of fright. She smiled carelessly at Alexander. The king spoke a few words to Ptolemy, who turned his horse and rode after the getaerosi.

Despite the attack, the glorious parade didn’t slow down even for a bit. Beyond the city limits, rows upon rows of soldiers greeted the king with thunderous shouts. Argiroaspides in the front rows struck their ringing silver shields. Drums rumbled. The black Amazon’s horse started dancing, striking her hooves in rhythm with the drums and bowing to the left and right. Armfuls of blue, pink and yellow flowers flew under the horses’ feet. Both Amazons were showered by flowers. They laughed and shielded themselves from the fragrant bunches, causing even greater delight among the revelers.

Ptolemy caught up with Alexander not far from the improvised theater. “The black-skinned one has an exceedingly firm and swift hand,” he said unhappily, addressing the king.

“Did you manage to find the reason for the attack?” Alexander asked. “Who and why needed to kill beauty, a thing that is harmless during war and carries no cause for revenge?”

“These people who live at the edge of the desert despise women. They have no sense of beauty and, having acquired an idea, are ready to kill, regardless of consequences and the thought of attacking like cowards.”

“What harm was the queen of Amazons?”

“They said that the one who threw the knife was a relative of some beauty who was designated to become your wife.”

“Without asking me,” Alexander said and chuckled.

“They say some people know special magic and that nobody can resist the charms of their women.”

Alexander said disdainfully, “And seeing the splendor of the queen of Amazons they decided to kill her even at the cost of life?”

“They value life poorly. The only thing of value is service to their gods,” Ptolemy said, looking unusually dismayed.

“Give orders to kill everyone who helped the assassin, and marry his beauty off to one of the stablemen serving the getaerosi!”

Alexander dismounted and caught “the queen of Amazons” as she hopped off Boanergos. Taking her hand, he led her to the highest row of benches under a tent of precious crimson cloth, taken from the stores of the East palace.

The sun was setting behind the hills when Alexander finally left the celebration. They rode in a row: Thais, still in her Amazon guise, Ptolemy, Hephaestion and Crateros. The other captains rode a few steps behind and a double row of armored getaerosi protected them on each side.

Hephaestion said something quiet to Crateros, who listened, then suddenly burst into laughter. Thais glanced at him, surprised by the unusual merriment coming from the normally serious Crateros.

“They were remembering the end of the performance,” Ptolemy explained.

Yes, Thais too remembered the incredible snake dance. It was performed by a tall, slender and unusually agile Nubian woman and a pale buxom Babylonian. It seemed as if the black body of a snake coiled around the white girl. The black “snake” seemed to rise from behind her “victim”, resting her head on her shoulder, or springing from the ground, sliding between the Babylonian’s legs.

“Are you talking about the snake dance?” Thais asked.

“Not at all. Can such delicate art get through to Crateros? No, he was recalling a group of Babylonian acrobats, performing the pantomime of love.”

“What was good about that?” the hetaera wondered. “It was disgusting. The girls were beautiful, yes, but the men…”

“But how artful they were in their poses. Even the servants of Cotytto wouldn’t think of such things.”

“Were you also delighted by that performance?” Thais asked Ptolemy.

“Do you know me so badly? Or are you pretending?”

Thais squinted mischievously, fixing a chain connecting her “borrowed” braid behind her back.

“No man can watch this with anything but indignation, though a eunuch might enjoy it,” Ptolemy said, sounding angry.

“I wonder why? I, for example, am angry because the sacred service to Aphrodite and Kibela, the mystery known only to the goddess and the lovers who can rise to her level, was displayed for show, humiliating people to the level of beasts and creating primitive emotions and degradation of beauty. It is a despicable violation of the gods’ bequest,” Thais said indignantly.

“I understand that well. But I also feel as if I’ve been robbed,” Ptolemy said, and smiled.

“Ah, you wanted to trade places with those acrobats,” Thais guessed.

“Why not? Not on stage, of course. But if a beautiful woman is being held and caressed in front of me, I feel offended. I cannot take such a sight.”

Alexander listened to the conversation with interest, nodding his approval. “I want to ask you a question,” he said to Thais.

“Yes, Majesty.”

Alexander gestured her to ride closer.

“Would you like to be the queen of Amazons in reality?” Alexander asked quietly.

“For you, yes. For me, no. You cannot continue a fairy tale you have invented.”

“That is true. How do you know?”