The Invasion of India by Alexander the Great as described by Arrian, Q. Curtius, Diodoros, Plutarch and JustinQ. CURTIUS RUFUSReading editionChapter navigation139 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterANCIENT INDIA ITS INVASION BY ALEXANDER THE GREATPREFACE TO SECOND EDITIONPREFACE TO FIRST EDITIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION (continued 2)ARRIANChapter XXII · —Alexander crosses the Indian Kaukasos to invade India and advances to the river KôphênChapter XXIII · —Alexander wars against the AspasiansChapter XXIV · —Operations against the AspasiansChapter XXV · —Defeat of the Aspasians—The Assakenians and Gouraians attackedChapter XXVI · —Siege of MassagaChapter XXVII · —Massaga taken by storm—Ora and Bazira besiegedChapter XXVIII · —Bazira captured—Alexander marches to the rock AornosChapter XXIX · —Siege of AornosChapter XXX · —Capture of Aornos—Advance to the IndusChapter I · —Alexander at NysaChapter II · —Alexander permits the Nysaians to retain their Autonomy—Visits Mount MêrosChapter III · —How Eratosthenes views the legends concerning Heraklês and Dionysos—Alexander crosses the IndusChapter IV · —General description of the Indus and of the people of IndiaChapter V · —The rivers and mountains of AsiaChapter VI · —Position and boundaries of India and how its plains may have been formedChapter VII · —The bridging of riversChapter VIII · —Alexander arrives at Taxila—Receives an embassy from Abisares and advances to the HydaspêsChapter IX · —Alexander on reaching the Hydaspês finds Pôros prepared to dispute its passageChapter X · —Alexander’s devices to deceive Pôros and steal the passage of the riverChapter XI · —Arrangements made by Alexander for crossing the Hydaspês unobservedChapter XII · —Alexander crosses the HydaspêsChapter XIII · —Incidents of the passage of the riverChapter XIV · —Skirmish with the son of Pôros at the landing-placeChapter XV · —The arrangements made by Pôros for the conflictChapter XVI · —The plan of attack adopted by AlexanderChapter XVII · —Description of the battle of the Hydaspês—Defeat of PôrosChapter XVIII · —Sequel of the battle and surrender of PôrosChapter XIX · —Alexander makes Pôros his firm friend and ally—Founds two cities—Death of his famous horse BoukephalasChapter XX · —Alexander conquers the Glausai, receives embassies from Abisarês and other chiefs, and crosses the AkesinêsChapter XXI · —Pursuit after Pôros, nephew of the great Pôros—Conquest of the country between the Akesinês and the Hydraôtês—Passage of the latter riverChapter XXII · —Alexander marches against the Kathaians—Takes Pimprama, and lays siege to SangalaChapter XXIII · —Alexander drives the Kathaians into Sangala, which he invests on every sideChapter XXIV · —Alexander captures Sangala, razes it to the ground, and advances to the river HyphasisChapter XXV · —Alexander finding the army unwilling to advance beyond the Hyphasis, convokes his officers and addresses them on the subjectChapter XXVI · —Continuation of Alexander’s SpeechChapter XXVII · —Koinos, replying to Alexander, states the grievances of the armyChapter XXVIII · —Alexander mortified by the refusal of his army to advance, secludes himself in his tent, but in the end resolves to returnChapter XXIX · —Alexander erects altars on the banks of the Hyphasis to mark the limits of his advance, recrosses the Hydraôtês and Akesinês and regains the HydaspêsChapter I · —Alexander mistakes the Indus for the upper Nile—Prepares to sail down stream to the seaChapter II · —Description of the voyage down the HydaspêsChapter III · —Description of the voyage down the Hydaspês continuedChapter IV · —Alexander accelerates his voyage to frustrate the plans of the Malloi and Oxydrakai, and reaches the turbulent confluence of the Hydaspês and AkesinêsChapter V · —Dangers encountered by the fleet at the confluence—Plan of the operations which followed—Voyage down the AkesinêsChapter VI · —Alexander invades the territories of the MalloiChapter VII · —Siege and capture of several Mallian strongholdsChapter VIII · —Alexander defeats the Malloi at the HydraôtêsChapter IX · —Alexander assails the chief stronghold of the Malloi, scales the wall of the citadel, into which he leaps down though aloneChapter X · —Alexander is dangerously wounded within the citadelChapter XI · —Dangerous nature of Alexander’s wound—Arrian refutes some current fictions relating to this accidentChapter XII · —Distress and anxiety of the army at the prospect of Alexander’s deathChapter XIII · —Joy of the army on seeing Alexander after his recovery—His officers rebuke him for his rashnessChapter XIV · —Submission of the Malloi, Oxydrakai, and others—Voyage down the Hydraôtês and Akesinês to the IndusChapter XV · —Appointment of Satraps—Voyage down the Indus to the dominions of Mousikanos, who tenders his submissionChapter XVI · —Campaign against Oxykanos and SambosChapter XVII · —Mousikanos is captured by Peithôn and executed—Alexander reaches Patala at the apex of the Indus DeltaChapter XVIII · —Alexander orders wells to be dug in the district round Patala, and sails down the western arm of the IndusChapter XIX · —The fleet is damaged by the tide, halts at an island in the Indus, and thence reaches the open seaChapter XX · —Alexander after returning to Patala sails down the eastern arm of the IndusChapter XXI · —Alexander crosses the river Arabios and invades the OreitaiChapter XXII · —Submission of the Oreitai—Description of the Gadrôsian desertChapter XXIII · —Alexander marching through Gadrôsia endeavours to collect supplies for the fleetChapter XXIV · —Difficulties encountered on the march through GadrôsiaChapter XXV · —Sufferings of the army in the Gadrôsian desertChapter XXVI · —Incidents of the march through GadrôsiaChapter XXVII · —Appointment of satraps—Alexander learns that the satrap Philippos had been murdered in India—Punishes satraps who had misgovernedChapter XXVIII · —Alexander holds rejoicings in Karmania on account of his Indian victories—List of his body-guards—Nearchos reports to him the safety of the fleetQ. CURTIUS RUFUSChapter IX · —Description of IndiaChapter X · —Campaign in the regions west of the Indus—Alexander captures Nysa, and visits Mount Merus—Siege of Mazaga, and its surrenderChapter XI · —Siege and capture of the Rock AornisChapter XII · —Alexander marches to the Indus, crosses it, and is hospitably received by Omphis, King of TaxilaChapter XIII · —Alexander and Porus confront each other on opposite banks of the HydaspesChapter XIV · —Battle with Porus on the left bank of the Hydaspes—Porus being defeated surrendersChapter I · —Alexander’s speech to his soldiers after the victory—Abisares sends him an embassyChapter I · Continued.—Alexander advancing farther into the interior of India, passes through forests and deserts—Crosses the Hydraotes—Besieges and captures Sangala, and enters the kingdom of Sopithes, who receives him with great hospitality and shows him a dog and lion fightChapter II · —Alexander obtains information about the Ganges and the strength of the army kept by Agrammes, king of the Prasians—His speech to the soldiers to induce them to advance to the GangesChapter III · —Speech of Coenus on behalf of the army—Alexander’s displeasure at the refusal of the soldiers to advance—He resolves to return—Raises altars as memorials of his presence—Reaches the Acesines, where Coenus dies—Reconciles Taxiles and Porus, and then sails down streamChapter IV · —Alexander subdues various tribes on his way to the Indus—Disasters to his fleet at the meeting of the rivers—His campaign against the Sudracae and Malli—Assails their chief stronghold and is left standing alone on the wallChapter V · —Alexander is severely wounded by an arrow within the stronghold of the Sudracae—The arrow is extracted by CritobulusChapter VI · —Alexander recovers and shows himself to the army—His officers remonstrate with him for his recklessness in exposing his life to danger—His reply to their appealChapter VII · —The affair of Biton and Boxus at Baktra—Embassy from the Sudracae and Malli proffering submission—Alexander entertains his army and the embassy at a sumptuous banquet—Single combat between a Macedonian and an Athenian championChapter VIII · —Alexander receives the submission of the Malli—Invades the Musicani and the Praesti, whose king Porticanus is slain—He next attacks King Sambus, many of whose cities surrendered—Musicanus having revolted is captured and executed—Ptolemy is wounded by a poisoned arrow in the kingdom of Sambus, but recovers—Alexander reaches Patala and sails down the IndusChapter IX · —Perils encountered on the voyage down the western arm of the Indus to the sea—Alexander returns from the mouth of the river to PatalaChapter X · —Alexander goes homeward by land, leaving Nearchus to follow by sea and conduct the fleet to the head of the Persian Gulf—Disastrous march through Gedrosia—Alexander arrives in Carmania, where he holds Bacchic revels to celebrate his conquestsDIODÔROS SICULUSChapter LXXXIV · —Alexander at Massaga—His treachery towards the Indian mercenaries who had capitulatedChapter LXXXV · —Alexander captures the rock AornosChapter LXXXVI · —Alexander crosses the Indus, and is hospitably received by TaxilêsChapter LXXXVII · —Alexander marches against Pôros—The appearance presented by the Indian army with its elephantsChapter LXXXVIII · —The defeat of PôrosChapter LXXXIX · —Losses sustained by each side in the battle of the Hydaspês—Alexander orders a fleet to be built on the Hydaspês.Chapter XC · —Some account of the serpents, apes, and trees seen by the Macedonians in IndiaChapter XCI · —Alexander pursues Pôros, nephew of the great Pôros—Subdues the Adrestai and Kathaians and enters the kingdom of Sôpeithês—Peculiar customs of the natives of these partsChapter XCII · —Courage and ferocity of the dogs in the dominions of SôpeithêsChapter XCIII · —Submission of Phêgeus—Advance to the Hypanis—Description given by Phêgeus of the country beyond the Hypanis—Of the Praisians and their king XandramesChapter XCIV · —Miserable condition of the Macedonian army—Its refusal to advance beyond the HypanisChapter XCV · —Alexander erects altars and other memorials near the Hypanis, and returns to the AkesinêsChapter XCVI · —Voyage to the Southern Ocean begun—Submission of the Siboi—The Agalassians attacked and conqueredChapter XCVII · —Disaster to the fleet at the confluence of the riversChapter XCVIII · —Combination of the Syrakousai and Malloi—Alexander, neglecting the warning of a soothsayer, attacks their stronghold, and scales the walls of its citadelChapter XCIX · —Alexander left alone leaps down from the walls into the citadel, bravely defends himself, but is dangerously wounded—He is rescued by his friends, who capture the stronghold—The Greek colonists in Bactria revoltChapter C · —Alexander recovers from his wound—Combat between Koragos and Dioxippos—Dioxippos becomes victorChapter CI · —The Macedonians plot against Dioxippos, who in consequence takes away his own life—Alexander’s regret for his lossChapter CII · —The Sambastai, Sodrai, and Massanoi submit to Alexander, who founds near the banks of the river a city called Alexandreia—He conquers the kingdoms of Mousikanos, Portikanos, and Sambos—The last effects his escapeChapter CIII · —Harmatelia holds out against Alexander—In a battle with its inhabitants Ptolemy is wounded by a poisoned arrow, but is cured by an antidote revealed to Alexander in a dreamChapter CIV · —Alexander sails down to the mouth of the Indus—Sails back to Tauala (Patala?)—Starts on his march homewards, instructing Nearchos to explore the way with his fleet to the head of the Persian Gulf—Ravages the land of the Oritians and founds another AlexandreiaChapter CV · —How the Oritians bury their dead—The Ichthyophagoi described—Sufferings and losses of the army in the Gedrôsian desert—Relief sent by various satraps—Leonnatos is attacked by the OritiansChapter CVI · —Revels of Alexander and the army after escaping from the desert—Officials who had abused their authority called to account—Nearchos visits Alexander at Salmous, and recounts the incidents of his voyageChapter CVII · —Kalanos, the Indian philosopher, immolates himself—Alexander marries the daughter of DariusPLUTARCHChapter LVIII · —Alexander at NysaChapter LIX · —Interchange of civilities between Alexander and Taxilês—Alexander breaks his faith with Indian mercenaries, and hangs some Indian philosophersChapter LX · —The account of the battle with Pôros, as given by Alexander himself—Alexander’s noble treatment of PôrosChapter LXI · —Death of Boukephalas, and Alexander’s regret at his lossChapter LXII · —The army refuses to advance to the Ganges—Alexander, preparing to retreat, erects altars which were afterwards held in veneration by the Praisian kings—The opinion of AndrokottosChapter LXIII · —Alexander starts on a voyage down stream, reducing tribes by the way—He is dangerously wounded in the capital of the Malloi—Extraction of the arrow from his wound—His recoveryChapter LXIV · —Alexander’s interview with the Indian gymnosophistsChapter LXV · —Onesikritos confers with the Indian gymnosophists Kalanos and Dandamis—Kalanos visits Alexander and shows him a symbol of his empireChapter LXVI · —Alexander visits the island Skilloustis, and sailing thence explores the sea—Sufferings of his army on the march homeward, and extent of its losses—Relief sent by the satrapsChapter LXVII · —Alexander and the army indulge in wild revelry on emerging from the desertJUSTINChapter VII · —Alexander visits Nysa and Mount Merus—Receives the submission of Queen Cleophis and captures the Rock (Aornos)Chapter VIII · —Alexander conquers Porus—Builds Nicaea and Boucephala, and reduces the Adrestae, Gesteani, Praesidae, and Gangaridae—Advances to the Cuphites (Beäs), beyond which the army refuses to follow him—He agrees to return, and leaves memorials of his progressChapter IX · —Alexander sailing down the Panjâb rivers to the ocean, reduces the Hiacensanae, Silei, Ambri, and Sigambri—He is dangerously wounded in attacking one of their strongholdsChapter X · —Alexander reaches the city of King Ambigerus (Sambos?)—Ptolemy is there wounded by a poisoned arrow—An antidote to the poison is revealed to Alexander in a dream—He sails down to the mouth of the Indus—Founds Barce—Leaves India and returns to BabylonChapter IV · —Seleucus Nicator subjugates the Bactrians and enters India—The history of Sandrocottus who was then King of India—Seleucus makes a treaty of peace with him and returns to the WestAPPENDICESAPPENDICES (continued 2)APPENDICES (continued 3)I. GENERAL INDEXII. INDEX OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED OR REFERRED TOPrevious chapter ←Chapter XXVIII · —Alexander holds rejoicings in Karmania on account of his Indian victories—List of his body-guards—Nearchos reports to him the safety of the fleetNext chapter →Chapter IX · —Description of IndiaAll chapters and sections (139)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsANCIENT INDIA ITS INVASION BY ALEXANDER THE GREATPREFACE TO SECOND EDITIONPREFACE TO FIRST EDITIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION (continued 2)ARRIANChapters22232425262728293012Other sectionsChapter III · —How Eratosthenes views the legends concerning Heraklês and Dionysos—Alexander crosses the IndusChapters4567891011121314151617181920212223242526Other sectionsChapter XXVII · —Koinos, replying to Alexander, states the grievances of the armyChapters282912345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728Other sectionsQ. CURTIUS RUFUSChapters91011121314112345678910Other sectionsDIODÔROS SICULUSChapters84858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107Other sectionsPLUTARCHChapters58596061626364656667Other sectionsJUSTINChapters789104Other sectionsAPPENDICESAPPENDICES (continued 2)APPENDICES (continued 3)I. GENERAL INDEXII. INDEX OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED OR REFERRED TOHISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT, BY Q. CURTIUS RUFUSEighth Book← Chapter XXVIII.—Alexander holds rejoicings in Karmania on account of his Indian victories—List of his body-guards—Nearchos reports to him the safety of the fleetChapter IX.—Description of India →