Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 58
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MAY, 1928
Curtius in his description of the rock (petra), which he calls by the name of Aornis, does not give any dimensions but mentions that the Indus, deep and confined between steep banks, washes its foot.47 Elsewhere there are ravines and craggy precipices. In rhetorical style, apparently inspired by a reminiscence from Livy, Curtius likens "the rock" to the meta of the Roman circus," which has a wide base, tapers off in ascending, and terminates in a sharp pinnacle."48 This description, if it is based on some passage of his original source, would suggest that one portion of the "rock" rose into a steep conical point. We are told that under the guidance of an old man from the neighbourhood a light-armed detachment was sent ahead by a detour to occupy the highest summit unobserved by the enemy.49
Curtius next relates that in order to make an assault practicable a ravine was being filled up with a mound. For this the trees of a forest close at hand were cut down and their trunks, stripped of branches and leaves, thrown in. Within the seventh day the hollows had been filled. An assault up the steep slopes by the archers and Agriani was then ordered. Thirty selected youths from among the king's pages under Charus and Alexander formed the forlorn hope. In the highly rhetorical description which follows it is, however, the king himself who is said to have put himself at the head of the assault. Many are said to have perished, falling from the steep crags into the river which flowed below, "since the barbarians rolled down huge stones upon those climbing up, and such as were struck by them fell headlong from their insecure and slippery footing." We are then told in lengthy poetical words of the death of the two leaders, Charus and Alexander, who had got up high enough to engage in a hand-to-hand fight, but were overpowered and fell.
The king, affected by these losses, then ordered the retreat, which was carried out in an orderly fashion. Alexander, though resc red to abandon the enterprise, yet made demonstrations of continuing the siege. Thereupon the Indians, with a show of confidence and even triumph, feasted for two days and two nights, but on the third night abandoned the rock. When their retirement was discovered, the king ordered his troops to raise a general shout. This struck such terror into the fugitives that many "flinging themselves head. long over the slippery rocks and precipices” were killed or were left behind injured.
The three accounts translated or analyzed above are the only ones which have come down to us furnishing any specific data about Aornos. By comparing them we can deduce the following definite indications as regards the locality intended. Aornos was a natural stronghold, situated on a mountain of great height, which precipitous rocky slopes and deep-cut valleys below rendered capable of easy defence against an aggressor. It is important to note that no mention is made anywhere of fortification by the hand of man. There was sufficient level space on the top to permit of considerable numbers finding there a safe refuge. The site was near to the Indus, which flowed at its foot. 60 Its relative height must have been very striking to account for the definite measurements of ll and 16 stadia respectively, which Arrian and Diodorus record, approximately corresponding to 6,600 or 9,600 feet. In the same way the circuits of 200 and 100 stadia respectively, which these two authors mention, approximately corresponding to 22 or 11 miles, can obviously apply only to a mountain massif or range and not to a single hill or peak.
47 Cf. Historiæ,' VIII. xi. • 48 See M'Crindle, loc. cit., p. 197, referring to Livy, Bk. XXXVII. xxvii.
49 As the leader of the detachment is mentioned Myllese (or Mullinus), the king's secretary: neither form of the name is otherwise known. The substitution of his name for that of Ptolemy shows that Curtius follows here & source distinct from that of Arrian.
60 Both Diodorus and Curtius definitely mention this point, and Arrian's silence doos in no way con. tradict it. On the other hand, no weight can attach to the statement in Curtius' highly coloured descrip. tion of the siege, which makes those who lost their foothold in scaling the "rock" from the ravine fall into the river; for the possibility of this is manifestly excluded by his comparison of the rock with a meta" which has a wide base, tapers off in ascending," etc.
