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
________________
28
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JONE, 1929
steeper and steeper as the bottom of the ravine is approached, and in consequence the rate in the daily advance of the mound was bound to decrease in proportion to the greater depth to be filled up. Thus it is explained why, even when on the fourth day a few Macedonians had forced their way to a small hillock on the opposite slope, it was necessary to continue work on the mound in order to join the two, as Arrian tells us.
I believe we can safely recognize this "small hillock" (bliyev yndodov) in the shoulder of MAshlun described above. Its level as measured by aneroid is about 450 feet above that of the bottom of the Burimár-kandao, and about the same above the flat portion of Pir-sar. It is true that Arrian calls this small hill comedor rñ mérpq, "level with the rock." But this is easily understood, considering that a continuous slope passing Bar-sar connects Mashlun with the plateau portion of Pir-sar. That there still rose a steep height above the "small hillock" is made perfectly clear by Arrian's own narrative, where he describes the stiff climb which brought Alexander and his 700 to the top of the "rock", after the mound had been joined to the hillock and while the defenders were abandoning Aornos. I myself retain a very vivid recollection of the trying scramble over steep orags by which the summit of Bar. Bar was gained after my visit to Mashlun. I can hence realize what this ascent of about 350 feet may have meant for men encumbered by armour. That the height of Bar-sar was a very convenient place for the Macedonians to assemble and then at a preconcerted signal to turn upon the retreating barbarians, as related by Arrian, is obvious. In the same way it is easy to understand that some of the latter in their terrified flight during the night lost their lives by falling down precipices below Pir-sar.
The above observations will show how closely all topographical details about lir-gar agree with what our extant records tells us of Aornos and Alexander's operations against it. But this identification may be supported also by antiquarian and philological evidence. There is no mention whatsoever in our texts of the natural defences of Aornos having been strengthened by the hand of man, and we may attach all the more significance to this negative fact in view of the obvious desire of our authors to emphasize the greatness of the difficulties overcome at the capture of the stronghold. That Aornog was recognized by them to have been solely a natural stronghold is clearly shown by the fact that they ordinarily designate it simply by the term petra, "the rock."66 But we are told by Arrian that Alexander after the capture built there a fortified post and entrusted its guard to Sisikottos, an Indian deserter who had joined him in Baktra and proved trustworthy. Curtius, too, mentions Sisicostus as having been charged with the guarding of the rock and the adjoining territory. Curtius further mentions that Alexander erected altars on the “rook "to Minerva and Victory,, while Arrian refers merely to sacrifices performed there by him.
In view of Arrian's statement it is of distinct interest that I found the badly decayed remains of what undoubtedly was a small fort on the summit of Bar-gar. The walls occupy whatever level space there is on the top, and to the north, towards Lande-sar, descend also on the slope. They form an irregular quadrilateral, of which the longest side eastwards measures 138 feet and the shortest to the north 60 feet. The walls, 5 feet thick throughout, are deeply buried in debris and earth, largely humus deposited by decay of the luxuriant forest vegetation which has grown up and flourished evidently for centuries between and over the ruins. It was only by a careful search that the lines of the enclosing walls and some small rooms in the southern part of the area enclosed could be traced. What little excava. tion was possible within the limits of time and labour showed masonry of a type not unlike that found at Bir-kôt and at ancient dwellings of early Buddhist times in Swat, stone slabs, unbewn but fairly uniform in thickness, being set in mud plaster. Among the potsherds
66 The same notion seems to be conveyed also by Curtius, where, in recording Alexander's triumph, he speaks of him as rex locorum magis quam hostium victor; cf, 'Historiæ,' VIII, xi., fin,
