Ivan Yefremov - Thais of Athens

Leontiscus had died during a brutal battle against the Scythians at Alexandria Eskhata, the Most Distant One, beyond Sogdiana and the River of Sands. His body now rested under a heavy stone slab in the fortress city of Alexandria Eskhata, nicknamed “Nymphe Tanaton”, the “Bride of Death” by the Macedonian soldiers. The arrows of the Scythian riders, too swift for the heavy Macedonian cavalry who were armed with both long swords and powerful bows, took many victims.

Even Alexander limped for a long time after that from an arrow that had pierced his tibia on that day. He managed his anger through displaying mad courage, dashing at the enemy ahead of everyone else. As a result he received such a strike on the head from a slingshot rock that his vision faltered for twelve days, and he could not think with the same divine clarity as he had before.

The last battles against the Scythians broke him. The king returned from Alexandria Eskhata on a stretcher after reaching a peace agreement with the incredible tribes from the steppes which stretched far into the cold land of darkness beyond the Sea of Birds, Thanais and the Black Sea. Several centuries later, a beautiful city was built over the ruins of Alexandria Eskhata, and would be called “Tirozi Chakhon”, the “Bride of Peace”.

More than once, Thais recalled Leontiscus’ story about the Massaget who had been executed by Alexander after the battle of Gaugamela. The young tribe leader had turned out to be a prophet. The fighting methods of which he told Alexander were used by the Scythians, and ultimately stopped the undefeated army’s movement to the east. Alexander turned south, moving upstream along the River of Sands, headed toward the giant, ice-covered ridges of the Roof of the World and Parapamizes, which had glimmered on the horizon since the beginning of the campaign almost three years before.

Ptolemy was courageous and careful, insightful, but not fond of showing off. He knew his own value but was not prone to bragging. He had gradually risen above the other six of Alexander’s closest associates, becoming known as the most reliable and cautious one. He kept a journal of the campaign and proved to be a talented writer in his letters to Thais. His wife felt that nothing could possibly happen to this intelligent warrior, whose fate was taking him toward dazzling heights. Only the proximity of the superhuman Alexander left him in the shadow.

Thais returned to reading Hesiona’s letter.

The Theban asked her to come to Babylon and stay at the house bought for her by Nearchus before his departure. Alexander had asked him to assist the other sailor, Onesikrit, who was Nearchus’ assistant at navigation and map reading. Nearchus had gone to Bactriana with a group of shipbuilders so they could participate in the march beyond India. They were going to the limits of the world at the edge of the ocean which could not be reached from across the steppes. The river Indus flowed beyond the colossal mountains of Parapamizes and Gindukush, connecting with the Nile somewhere in the west. The edge of the dry land was only a few thousand stadiums to the south.

Nearchus had been forced to say goodbye to Hesiona for a long time. “And just imagine …” Thais could hear Hesiona’s laughter in her mind. “The latest news from Nearchus is that my brave sailor was appointed to command the Agrian cavalry in addition to his countrymen, the Cretan archers, of which there are not many left.”

“I should probably quit hoping for Ptolemy’s speedy return and take care of my son’s education on my own,” Thais thought and quickly read through the remainder of the letter. Hesiona wrote about a big theater being constructed in Babylon. In order to speed up the delivery of construction materials, Alexander had ordered them to demolish the Etemenanki tower, thus committing an act of barbarism unheard of for a true Helenian. It was also unwarranted, despite the fact that the tower had been damaged by time.

The statue of Alexander which had been created by Lysippus now stood in a courtyard of a temple. Priests of a new cult prayed to it. Having placed the letter under her dagger, Thais sat for awhile in contemplation, listening to the wind beat against the coarse foliage of the trees which threw shade over the terrace. She then straightened, rung a silver disk to call a slave in an eastern fashion, and ordered the slave to bring her the writing set.

“Year one of the hundred and thirteenth Olympiad. Rejoice, Hesiona!

“I think you ought to come to Ecbatana and wait here for the army’s return from the Indian campaign. I have lived in this city for three years now. Once in the winter, snow fell for several minutes. It reminded me of my native Athens, where we get severe winters and at least once a year snow stays on the ground for a day. You have already noticed the similarity with your Thebes. And the air here, at higher levels, is similar to the luminous, delicate and life-giving air of our Hellas, the breath of Olympus and the beating of the wings of sacred birds.

“Everywhere in Asia, with the exception of the three blessed cities of Ionia: Khios, Clazomene and Ethos, the sun is heavy and blinding. It oppresses the mind and emotions, and dust covers the horizon. Even in Egypt the light is too strong, and the air doesn’t sparkle or shimmer with the magical glow in which all objects are so clear, and women and statues appear so alluring that every Helenian becomes an artist. It is time for you to rest from the humid heat and flies of Babylon. I am afraid for Alexander, Ptolemy, Hephaestion and all our people, who spent these three years in battles and marches beyond the borders of Persia from the Sea of Birds, in the steppes and mountains, where winter carries snowy winds and cold never heard of in Hellas. The resistance of Bactrians, Sogdians and especially Scythians have exceeded Alexander’s imagination and the abilities of his army. The army of experienced veterans melts away as they struggle further east, and the people of the defeated countries who now comprise almost a half of the army are much less reliable.

“Elevated through his unprecedented victories, Alexander, the divine pharaoh of Egypt, who is already being worshipped in the ancient cities of the Mother of People, Mesopotamia, has become intolerant of any contradiction. In the past he was assured of his wisdom and strength and was capable of listening to the arguments of his comrades. Now he finds it humiliating to the dignity of a great king and conqueror. Sadly, the Asians turned out to be artful flatterers, ready for all manner of humiliation. My teacher in Egypt once said that the worst poison, even for the wisest and strongest of men, is the constant edification of themselves and their deeds. Alexander has taken a full cup of this poison and has become capable of things previously incompatible with his truly great personality.

“You must already know of the murder of the brave, albeit stupid and vain Philotas, the leader of the getaerosi and of Alexander’s personal guard. Having killed Philotas, Alexander immediately dispatched assassins to Ecbatana, ruled by his old and experienced warrior Parmenius, who was also killed before he even heard of his son’s execution. I believe the accusations of an assassination plot against Alexander were invented by the obliging advisers in order to justify the killings.

“This instance of injustice was followed by others. I don’t think you have heard about the branchides massacre. When our army faced great difficulties and much danger while they crossed the swift and free flowing Ocsos (also known as the River of the Sea), they met with a huge crowd of dirty, bedraggled and wild people. They carried green branches (thus, their name branchides), danced and screamed with joy in nearly unrecognizable Coyne. These were the descendants, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Helenian captives, whom Xerxes had taken deep into Persia to construction sites on its eastern borders. Alexander rode off to the side, from where he surveyed the savage vagrants. Suddenly he became enraged and ordered every single one of them killed. The pitiful crowd had no time to scatter.