CHAPTER 77

 

They were founders of towns

And the founders of states

Punic Phoenicians

Sail on the sea, come to me

Through the night

Pass through the gate

And steer your course

Until you reach the gods

(Therion, The Land of Canaan)

 

Sidon was a beautiful, big and crowded city bursting with activity everywhere, and a gentle salt-laden sea breeze could be felt around the place, along with soft sunrays. This, was one of the oldest Phoenician cities, founded almost 3000 years ago; and despise their great riches and outstanding fleet, since those ancient times, the Sidonian had been ruled by greater powers like Assyria, Babylonia and, most recently, Persia. Its geographical position was ideal, too perfect geopolitically speaking, to let this prosperous but powerless city independent.

 

What was Phoenicia? Well, it was a very ancient civilization that came from the land of Canaan; very famous because of its maritime trading culture. They used a vessel known as galley for their maritime travels, and they invented the bireme, a galley with two sets of oars on each side. These vessels were very famous during naval battles, especially at the time of Caesar, he used these vessels to cross to Britannia...but I’m changing the subject again. 

 

 There were many Phoenician cities, all of them organized like city-states, like the Greeks, but the ones you are going to hear about in my story, are: Sidon, Tyre and Carthage. And, as the Greek city-states, the Phoenician cities were also divided, even if sometimes they helped each other by making alliances. Reason why, it wasn’t strange that Sidon and Tyre hated each other in my time; they were always competing at the sea.  

 

This was the first time Hephaistion visited a Phoenician city and he had to admit that all he had heard about them were true. Sidon was a rich city, everywhere he could see people dressing in beautiful and colorful cloths, carrying valuable things and looking cheerful, carefree and relaxed; they couldn’t care less about the war between Alexander and Darius, as long as it didn’t affect them directly. It was said that at a Phoenician city a person could literally buy anything he or she could possibly imagine...as long as they had the money to pay, of course. The market was very famous, and Xsayarsa had insisted, more than once and very noisily, that they couldn’t leave without going to the market.

 

- It’s amazing, Peris –said the overexcited eunuch; who was like a boy that had eaten too many candies and was suffering a sugar rampage—You can find anything you want at the market, they have food, goods and animals from all over the Mediterranean.

 

- Yes, Yarsa, we can visit the market but latter –said the General in the same tone he used with Achilles, riding at his side through the crowded streets—First we have to go to the Council of Elders.

 

- The who? –asked the eunuch, who had thought that once in the city they would look for a house to stay, eat, rest, maybe take a nap and then, go out shopping. One thing Xsayarsa was finding very difficult to understand about these Macedonians, was that they did everything quickly, as if they had a horde of demons sent by Angra Mainyu behind then. And the eunuch always asked himself the same question, why the hurry? Life was too short not to enjoy it.

 

- According to what Alexander told me –Hephaistion explained— The previous King Straton…  

 

- The one this people killed?

 

- That one, governed by the power of Darius, but he had to share a little of his authority with the Council of Elders –the General continued—And they are the ones who asked Alexander to choose a new King for them.

 

- And after that, can we go to the market?

      

- We’ll see.

 

They arrived at the public building that served as the meeting place for the Council and there, the 300 men received Hephaistion formally, with all the honors as if he were King Alexander himself, after all he was his envoy. There, Hephaistion discovered that his skills as orator were very useful, not like in Macedonia were people distrust men who could express themselves too good with words, and he also found that he liked this world: politics and diplomacy.

 

For many of his Companions and friends, if not for all of them, this meeting would have been boring as death, but not for him, he studied each face in that hall, the gestures of the men. Hephaistion paid attention to what kind of words they chose at the moment of speak, and he tried to figure out who was the most influential man, who was in favor of the Macedonian presence in this place and who wasn’t. 

 

All right, I wasn’t a great orator like Marcus Tullius Cicero, but I was very good; and even if at that time I didn’t knew one of Cicero famous quotes: “Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator” My common sense always told me to do that. I don’t have to tell you that every time the Roman Senate was reunited at night I always went to hear the debate from the doors. After all, any Roman citizen could go and hear the debate. 

 

Lysanias, Xsayarsa and his servant, Atash, waited outside the building for almost 3 hours, in which Lysanias had to make an effort and not kill the eunuch to make him close his mouth. He complained a lot about…EVERYTHING, how was that his brother could stand him? 

 

- What took you so long? –asked Xsayarsa, sitting on the stairs, when the General came back—You left us here on the street as if we were beggars, and we are envoys of a King.

 

Hephaistion almost laughed himself to tears. “The envoys of a King”; well, technically the only one who was an envoy there was him, and, as far as the General knew, Xsayarsa continued to think that Alexander wasn’t nothing more than a barbarian whose only good attribute was that he had a great ass. 

 

- Sorry, but I had to introduce myself –said Hephaistion, with a young man behind him.

 

- What now? –asked his brother, sitting next to an impressive statue of a lion.

 

- Well, the Council was extremely nice to me, and they appointed this man –he extended his arm to where the stranger was—As my guide, his name is Hiram –the young man slightly bowed his head in their direction—They told me that 2 brothers are going to be my hosts in a house near the harbor; and they also said that: I can stay here as long as I want. 

 

- Sweet! –exclaimed his brother. At last some good news.

 

- So, now we go to our house and eat before starting with our mission –said Hephaistion.

 

Xsayarsa shook his head.

 

- Again with the hurries –he complained while walking at his new patron’s side—You know something? You are going to kill me. I’m not young anymore and all of this is too much for my old bones –he took his handkerchief to clean his forehead—All I ever wanted was to returned to the harem. I loved my job as a beauty doctor; I was the best! 

 

- Then, why did the Great King put you in charge of the mercenaries? –asked Hephaistion with curiosity,

 

- No, no, don’t ask him –said Lysanias, shaking his head, tired of hearing the high-pitched voice of the eunuch.

 

- Well, it’s not a nice story –said Xsayarsa, blinking to not cry—His majesty likes beautiful people and I was getting old… and I had a problem with one of the concubines. A horrible woman that hated me and wanted another eunuch in my place, her lover, can you imagine that?!

 

- Wait a second –said Lysanias, not understanding—Another eunuch was this woman’s lover? How?

 

- You know boy, we can do many things even if we don’t have…

 

- That’s too much information, Yarsa –said Hephaistion quickly, remembering their last conversation regarding this same subject—But you were saying. This woman hated you and I suppose that she spoke to the Great King. 

 

- Of course she did! –exclaimed Xsayarsa outraged—The bitch…but praise be to Ahura Mazda, as I told you, I’m a very good administrator and, his graciousness thought, I would serve him better taking care of his brutes.

 

Hephaistion patted his shoulder. He felt sorry for the eunuch, the life he wanted was very different from the one he had right now.

 

- Peris, do you think your King would want to have a harem? –asked Xsayarsa, with a gleam of hope in his eyes.

 

- Over my dead body, Yarsa –said Hephaistion, killing all the illusions of the Persian.

 

When the Council said that 2 brothers would have him as his guest, the General was expecting a normal house, not that small palace where Hiram took him and his peculiar group. It was an amazing house with a wonderful view of the sea and an enormous garden. The big windows were all opened to let the soft breeze and the perfume of the flowers enter the house. In that moment, Hephaistion started to regret his decision of leaving Achilles, he would have loved this city.

 

The 2 brothers, Baldo and Paltibaal, were young men from a rich and prosperous family in Sidon. They owned 5 biremes and used them for commercial travels across the Mediterranean; they both were single and their mother had just passed away a few months ago. Hephaistion didn’t know what to expect of them, but they turned out to be extremely polite and nice people, even Xsayarsa liked them and that was to say a lot.  

 

The steward of the house took them to the table, and the General was more than happy to find that the food was also delicious. Lysanias was the one who enjoyed this the most, after all this was his first gourmet meal since he left his home and his mother’s delicious cooking.

 

- I want to thank you for your hospitality –said Hephaistion during the meal.

 

- You don’t have to thank us, my lord –said Baldo, the older one who was just 2 years older than Nikandros—It’s our pleasure. 

 

- Please, Hephaistion will suffice –said the Macedonian and Baldo nodded, he never smiled and was extremely serious and formal—I didn’t see you at the Council meeting this morning. 

 

- My brother and I are too young for being in the Council – explained a very excited Paltibaal—But we were present when the Council met the Macedonian King at Byblos, to surrender the city.

 

- I see –the General wasn’t present at that time; he had things to do with Dismas.

 

Xsayarsa said nothing to Lysanias utterly surprise, but he observed the brothers with interest. Baldo was discreet, formal and bad conversationalist; his brother Paltibaal of 26 years old was the opposite, but what caught Xsayarsa’s attention at once was the fact that Paltibaal saw Hephaistion almost drooling. Really interesting. 

 

After the meal Hephaistion decided to take a bath. He didn’t have a clue of how to find a King. How did one choose a King? He didn’t knew the city, it’s history or traditions, the only thing he knew was that the Sidonians hated his previous King, who had been appointed by Darius, and that was pretty much all. The Council had told him that, if he needed something, he just had to ask, but Hephaistion knew it was a very bad idea to ask them about their opinion of whom should be King, after all, they had delegated that task to Alexander for 2 reasons: one because they wanted to assure Alexander that they wished to be his allies, and two because they wanted to avoid problems between the political factions inside the Council. 

 

To ask for their opinion or guidance would be the same as admitting that he had no idea of how to accomplish his mission, and to give them power over the new King.

 

No. This has to be my entire decision; this way the new King would be in debt with Alexander, not with the Council –thought Hephaistion, relaxing in that tub with wonderful hot water.   

 

But that was easier say than done. If he weren’t going to depend on the Council then, he would have to ask among the common people. He should ask Baldo and his brother, now that he thought about it. Every people had an idea, or a list of requirements for an ideal King, Hephaistion knew it was impossible to find the perfect candidate, but he could have an idea of what kind of man was he looking for, if he knew what kind of King did this people want.

 

After a very long bath arranging his ideas, the General got dress and went to his room; he was still thinking about what was he going to do, when he lifted his head and found a very beautiful young woman sitting on the bed. For a brief moment of stupidity, he thought this girl would be there to clean…or something like that; but when she saw him, she seductively smiled and walked to him, slowly and rhythmically, letting him to admire her voluptuous silhouette under that thin dress.

 

No, she definitely isn’t here to clean –though Hephaistion. But, when he girl leaned her body against him and tried to kiss him, the General took her by the shoulders, completely confusing the girl.

 

- That won’t be necessary –he said in Greek and the girl frowned.

 

- You…don’t like me? –she asked in a very bad Greek and he sighed. Hephaistion thought many things he could answer but, most probably, she wouldn’t understand, so he kept things simple.

 

- I’m sorry, but no. 

 

She was angry and offended but said nothing; she just stormed out the room with all the indignation she could summon. The General sighed and went outside.

 

- Yarsa –he called the eunuch, finding him rearranging the house with Atash’s help—Who let that girl enter my room and who was she?

 

- Oh! A member of the Council, a man named Hailama, sent her for your entertainment –said Xsayarsa with all calm.

 

A member of the Council? –thought Hephaistion. Most probably someone who was trying to influence his decision—I bet this Hailama wants to be King.

 

- I let her in after checking her –explained the eunuch.

 

- Checking her? –why did he ask? He knew he wasn’t going to like the answer.

 

- Of course! Do you expect that I would let a grotesque woman enter your room? I don’t choose horrible girls –said the Persian with all dignity.

 

Hephaistion ran a hand through his face.

 

- Thank you Yarsa…I guess… but please, don’t let anyone in my room, I’m not interested in sleeping with anyone except Alexander –he said. 

 

- You are so weird –said the eunuch, shaking his head—I would never understand you. All right, yes your King is very handsome, but he is not Aka Manah.

 

- Who?

 

Xsayarsa rolled his eyes.

 

- Aka Manah, one of the Daevas –when he saw the Macedonian’s blank expression, he continued— Our God of sensual desire.

 

- Oh!

 

- Don’t you get bored with your King? –asked the eunuch. 

 

- No, Yarsa, I don’t get bored and this is…

 

- None of my business, I get it.

 

- You confused me –said Hephaistion with all honesty—You said you don’t want that Alexander get tired of me, but you are letting girls into my room.

 

- One thing is that I don’t want you to lose your status as the barbarian King’s lover, another different that you can’t sleep with other people –explained the Persian.

 

- Yarsa, do you know that Alexander is extremely jealous? –said the General.

 

- And how should I know if you tell me nothing? –the eunuch reproached Hephaistion.

 

The Macedonian smiled.

 

- Well, he is –he said—And even if he wasn’t, I don’t want to sleep with someone else –Xsayarsa sighed, he definitely didn’t understand his new patron—I’m leaving, I’ll be back late. 

 

The eunuch nodded.

 

XXX

 

- Do you have news, Galussa? –asked Melkar on his horse, eating an apple while his dark eyes survey the distance.

 

- Yes, my lord –his servant Galussa was a very tall and strong man from the Kingdom of Numidia, in North Africa, dark skin and a ferocious face that match his cruel heart—The Macedonian King is still on his way to Tyre and his lover is in Sidon, my men say he is going to chose a new King for them. 

 

Melkar nodded.

 

- We’ll wait, is still soon to attack the Macedonians –he made a pause—The King, Azemilcus, is he still on the sea with Autophradates? –he asked, talking about the King of Tyre.

 

- Yes, my lord, his son is still in charge in the city.

 

Melkar smiled, a horrible smile. That was no problem at all for him. Azemilcus’ son was married to his own daughter, and the young man was easy to manipulate. Things were indeed going extremely well for him.

 

XXX

 

It had only been 3 days since Hephaistion left and Alexander was already missing him. The good thing was that he had many things to do, so he didn’t have the time to be thinking too much about his beloved, that, and the fact that he found himself a new toy: Achilles.   

 

For what my friends told me, Alexander was like this modern girls who carry a Chihuahua everywhere, just that my dear King instead of carrying a dog, was taking Achilles with him no matter where he went. The men were delighted; Achilles was like the army’s pet, and all of them were fascinated with their Crowned Prince. Have you ever heard about Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus? I bet you know him better by his stage name: Caligula…see, I know you have heard of him; well, when he was a little boy he lived among his father’s Legions during his campaign in Germania and the soldiers were delighted with him, so much that they gave him his nickname, which means little boot.    

 

With Achilles happened something similar. He behaved very properly and since he had his uncle’s eyes, he looked like a smaller version of the King, following him everywhere and dressed like him.  This was the first time the 2 of them were alone without me, and Alexander took this opportunity to know better his new Prince.

 

Alexander was in a splendid mood this day, which was a great change after he received a letter from his sister Cleopatra informing him that his uncle/brother-in-law was dead. King Alexandros of Epirus had died in Italian soil thanks to the treachery of some Lucanian exiles, whom he was helping by the way, and he was forced to fight under unfavorable circumstances near Pandosia, where he died.

 

This was a great shock for the young King, who had thought that he and his uncle/brother-in-law would create a great Empire, to the east and the west…Now, only he remained. He made a mental note to deal in the future with these Italians and avenge his uncle/brother-in-law.

 

For all his closest friends, this was also a good day, after 2 days in a terrible mood, Alexander was at his new study inside the Great King’s tent, reading Parmelio’s letter and completely please with the news. Parmelio had in his power Darius’ baggage train, and with this letter, also came some of the most valuable things among the Great King’s treasure with a detail dispatch of all what the Macedonians had now under his power in Damascus: 2,600 talents of coined money, 500 lb of wrought silver, 4,500 lb of gold cups, precious stones, and a list of the hostages: Darius’ household staff, concubines, 277 caterers, 17 bartenders, high ranking Persians, the wives and children of Darius’ commanders and blood relatives among others (1) 

 

When Parmelio left to Damascus, he was feeling uneasy, he had no good troops with him, except for the Thessalian cavalry and, to make things worst, it was winter now, which meant that many roads were under snow. The veteran General’s major concern was that the citizens of Damascus would resist and barricade themselves inside the city, leaving him, and his not so good troops, outside in the cold.

 

But, apparently the Gods were still very please with young King Alexander, because the governor of Damascus sent a letter saying that: “Alexander should speedily send one of his generals with a small force, to whom he might hand over what Darius had left in his charge”(2) And as easy as that, Parmelio entered Damascus without major problems. To this day, the veteran General still couldn’t believe their luck.

 

- Alexander, you have to see this –said Perdikkas, taking a richly jeweled gold casket from the piled things at the corner of the study. This magnificent object had been voted as the finest of the entire baggage, and of course sent immediately to the King.

 

The King walked to his friend and took the casket, still holding Parmelio’s letter.

 

- Nice –he said nodding.

 

- What are you going to put in there? –asked Leonnatos with curiosity.

 

- What else? My copy of the Iliad –said the King, with an almost childish smile.

 

Then, he remembered that Hephaistion’s birthday had been 2 days ago. His smile was even bigger when he realized that now he could chose something for his beloved among the things Parmelio had sent.

 

- When is Parmelio coming back? –asked Perdikkas, looking with interest the rest of the treasures there. It was the officer’s dream come true, a small pile of invaluable things, one more shiny than the other. 

 

- Not soon, I have ordered him to organize the military defenses of lowland Syria –answered Alexander, leaving the casket—And he also have to guard the rest of Darius’ baggage and the hostages.

 

- You are leaving all that at Damascus? –asked his friend outrage—Why?

 

 - I have no use for it here –said the King with simplicity.

 

- Does Parmelio have any news? –asked Leonnatos, holding a very heavy belt of gold with rubies as big as a baby’s first.

 

- Not many…Well, 2 Macedonians raped Mercenaries’ wives and he wants to know my opinion regarding this –said Alexander, walking around while reading the extremely long letter. 

 

- And? What do you think? –asked Leonnatos.

 

- That, if they are found guilty, “they are to be put to death as wild beasts born for the destruction of mankind”(3) –answered the King very serious, still reading Parmelio’s letter—Not again! –he exclaimed tired and a little angry.

 

- What? –asked his both friends, turning to see him.

 

- I’m sick of the same question –said Alexander angry, hitting his thigh with his fist.

 

- What question? –Perdikkas insisted.

 

- About Darius’ wife –said the King, tossing the letter in his hand—I have no idea of how was that some of the men could see her, but apparently she is very beautiful and everybody is asking me how does she look like. Why should I know? –he threw his arms in the air— I haven’t seen her.

 

- Well, Alexander; you are the King, and everybody would have expected that you…you know –said Perdikkas, with a smile that implied everything he wanted to say.

 

- I what? –Alexander asked very serious.

 

- Oh, come on! If I were the King, I would have go to visit the poor lonely woman the very first day after the battle –said Perdikkas, making Leonnatos laugh.

 

- Then, I guess that Darius’ wife must be very grateful that you are not the King –said Alexander. What was with everybody lately? First Philoxenus’ proposal of buying him boys, and now Parmelio asking for Darius’ wife.

 

But then, he remembered Hephaistion’s words: they were no longer boys and people were going to expect that Alexander changed his beloved for a woman or a boy.

 

Well, that is not going to happen –thought the King, his uneven eyes on Parmelio’s letter.

 

- I suppose you haven’t seen Darius’ harem either –said Perdikkas. Alexander and Hephaistion were right, Perdikkas did love gold too much, but there was something else he loved: women. And many times the King thought that both were going to be his friend’s downfall. 

 

- You mean what is left of it –said Alexander, knowing perfectly well that his men had sack the harem—I went one day just to see how were the concubines.

 

- And? What do you think of the women? –his friend insisted.

 

- What do I think of the harem? In general, that is “an irritation to the eyes” (2) –Leonnatos laughed, but the truth was that either men knew if he was joking or if he was serious.

 

- Alexander, where is your pet? –asked Perdikkas, stealing some fruit from the plate near them, and scaring the bees that were flying over the fruit in the process.

 

- Peritas is outside, I think –answered the King absently.

 

- Not that one.

 

- What do you mean?

 

- Aki, I was talking about Aki –said Perdikkas, giggling. Alexander lifted his head and saw him so intensely and seriously that his friend felt a shiver. It was as if the King’s eyes were drilling his brain. 

 

- Aki is my son, not my pet –said the King, with that tone of voice that chilled the blood of his enemies.

 

- I told you he was going to get mad –whispered Leonnatos. He knew how much did Alexander loved that kid, and since Perdikkas started to call him “Alexander’s pet” Leonnatos warned him that the King was going to get mad if he heard him. 

 

- I have to go –Alexander folded the letter and left it inside a drawer— Parmelio sent me 3 ambassadors and some captive envoys; I’ll see you tonight for dinner. 

 

- Health to you! –said Leonnatos. Perdikkas was still in shock after the King gave him that look. 

 

Alexander found Achilles sitting outside his study, reading a very old scroll of the Iliad that his uncle had given him. He might be 4 years old, but he knew how to read, which was one of the things that had impressed Kallisthenes when he first met the boy; he truly was very intelligent.

 

- Aki –the King called him—Come, we are going to meet someone.

 

The boy jumped on his feet, left the scroll carefully on the seat, and went to his uncle’s side.

 

- Who are we going to meet, Father? –that word made Alexander smiled.

 

This has been a funny story. Three nights ago, Achilles had come to his room with a very curious question.

 

- Uncle, why do the soldiers say you are my father? –the boy was very confused, and Alexander thought this was a perfect opportunity to explain him the situation.

 

He left his maps aside, after studying the safest rout to continue his march to Tyre. The army was traveling with few supplies, only for 3 days, because the Syrian coast was a fertile place and with abundant rainfall from October to April, and it was January. So far, the King had obtained supplies from the largest cities: Tripolis, Berytus and Byblus, but the had to be sure that he could keep supplying the army adequately all the way to Tyre (4)

 

Alexander sat Achilles on his legs.

 

- Well, Aki, the thing is that, now that you are the Crown Prince, you are my adopted son –said the King.

 

- What does adopted mean?

 

- Adopted means that, even if you are not my biological son, I can become your father by assuming all rights and obligations over you –explained the King, as simply as he could, but that was a challenge for him. Alexander thought so quickly that he couldn’t explain things in a simple way, because for him everything was easy to comprehend.   

 

- But I already have a father –said Achilles. 

 

- Yes, but now you have 2 –the boy needed a moment to think about that. At the end he decided it wasn’t so strange, after all he had 2 grandmothers, why couldn’t he have 2 fathers?

 

Even so, it still made Alexander smile every time he heard Achilles call him father. He took the boy by the hand and went to where Pylades son of Triptolemus, the Greek officer who had brought Parmelio’s letter and who was in charge of guarding the booty and the prisoners, was waiting, near a wagon with 5 men and, a woman covered with a cloak from head to toe, carrying a baby. 

 

- Joy to you, Pylades! –said the King in Greek, and Pylades almost blushed, he couldn’t believe the King remembered his name.

 

- Joy to you, sire.

 

- I hope your journey wasn’t troublesome, I heard many road are under snow –said the King. 

 

- Not at all, sire –the officer answered at once—We had good weather and the snow didn’t bother us.

 

- Good to hear that –said Alexander.

 

- I guess he is the new Prince –said Pylades, his eyes on Achilles, standing at the King’s side. He was still scared of strangers, but he didn’t want to disappoint his uncle, and he no longer hide behind him.

 

The officer’s words caught the woman’s attention.

 

- Yes, he is my son –lately, Alexander introduced Achilles as his son to everybody; he was like a small boy with a new toy. The woman on the wagon saw Achilles with interest.

 

- Joy to you! –said Achilles, very formal and Pylades smiled.

 

- Joy to you, Prince –said the officer, bending to the front and looking for something inside his clothes— I found this on the road –he said giving the boy a small turtle—But I think is going to be happier with you.

 

Achilles opened his big uneven eyes, and very excited took the turtle.

 

- Thank you! –he loved animals, and his enthusiasms made Pylades smile.

 

- He must be around my son’s age –he said to the King, while Achilles saw the turtle fascinated.  

 

Alexander smiled.

 

- General Parmelio told me he sent the ambassadors he found at Damascus –he said, back to business.

 

- Yes, Sire, and he also sent you a woman.

 

Not again –thought Alexander remembering Philoxenus’ letter, but his face didn’t betray him.

 

- A woman? –he frowned—Why?

 

- Because I asked him to, sire –the King turned, and found that the woman under the cloak was Barsine.

 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 244 and 245

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 244

(3) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 245

(4) Donal W. Engels. Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, p 55

A/N: I know nothing about Sidon, so technically I took what I know about and used it here.