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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JUNE, 1929]
ALEXANDER'S CAMPAIGN ON THE N.-W. FRONTIER
That Aornos was situated on such a massif or range is in fact made perfectly clear by what all three authors relate of the commanding height attacked by the Macedonians before the start of the siege and reached after an arduous ascent. Both Arrian and Curtius state that the march by which the light-armed detachment sent ahead by Alexander secured this position under local guidance remained unobserved by the enemy. This distinctly suggests that the route followed to that commanding height led up a valley which was hidden from the view of the defenders of Aornos. This assumption finds strong support in Arrian's reference to the pass (mápodos) to which Alexander, when subsequently following the same difficult route, had to ascend amidst severe fighting, before he could join Ptolemy's detach. ment holding the position above Aornos. Incidentally the opposition here encountered by Alexander indicates that this route leading to the height of the range, though not visible from Aornos and hence not obstructed on the first occasion, was yet accessible to its defend ers without their having first to dislodge the detachment on the height. We see from Arrian that an attempt to dislodge it had in fact been made on the preceding day but had failed.
We como now to the most significant among the topographical features recorded in connection with Alexander's siege of Aornos : I mean the deep ravine separating the heights on which the Macedonian camp stood from the nearest part of the "rock." Here, too, Arrian's account is the fullest and clearest. It shows us that the primary object for which Alexander had to resort to the expedient of constructing a great mound across this ravine was to bring the opposite slope held by the enemy within effective range of what by an anachronism might be called his troops' small arms and field artillery. The precipitous nature of that slope would lend itself to easy and most effective defence, in particular by means of large stones rolled down, a formidable method of defence, the actual use of which Curtius here specially mentions.61 No assault could succeed here until " it would be possible for arrows and for missiles shot from engines to reach the defenders."
We obtain some indication of the great width of the ravine, and indirectly also of its depth, from Arrian's statements concerning the construction of this mound. By the united efforts of the troops it was extended on the first day the length of a stadion, i.e., circ. 600 feet. After this it became possible for slingers posted on the mound and for shots from the engines to drive back sallies made against those engaged upon the mound. But "the work of piling it up went on for three days without intermission," before an assault made on the fourth enabled a handful of Macedonians to establish themselves on "& small hill which was on a level with the rock." Yet even after this, we are told by Arrian, the construction of the mound was continued until it was joined up with the position thus gained.63 This position must have lain still considerably below the crest of the height which faced the ravine from the side of the "rock." Thus only is it possible to account for the stiff climb which it cost Alexander and his selected 700 men to reach the top and fall upon the retreating barbarians during the night following their offer of surrender.
I may now proceed to show how easy it is to recognize all the topographical details elu. cidated above as regards Aornos and Alexander's siege of it in the local features of Pir-sar and its environs as illustrated by the map and my preceding description. Taking the general features first, we see from the map that the Indus flows in a wide bend round that eastern
51 Very striking illustrations in modern times of the results which may be obtained by this means of defence on alpine ground, were supplied by its use on the part of the valiant bands of Tyrolese peasants who successfully defended their country in 1809 against invasion by Napoleon's French and Bavarian troops.
53 This notice of Arrian about the continued extension of the mound dispones of the apparent discre. pancy which certain commentators have found between his account and that of Diodorus and Curtius, who mention seven days as the time taken over the construotion of the mound.
