What It Is to Be a King
Alexander, who had just taken the bath intended for his vanquished enemy Darius of Persia and was now eating Darius’s supper, was interrupted by a commotion in the camp.
333 BC
Macedonian Empire 359 - 323 BC
Alexander, who had just taken the bath intended for his vanquished enemy Darius of Persia and was now eating Darius’s supper, was interrupted by a commotion in the camp.
333 BC
Macedonian Empire 359 - 323 BC
It is November 5th, 333 BC. Aided by his fast friend Hephaestion, the young King Alexander of Macedon in northern Greece has just defeated Darius III, King of Persia, at the Battle of Issus on the modern-day Turkish-Syrian border. The first thing he did after taking possession of the enemy camp was to go to the hot bath prepared for Darius. ‘So this’ he laughed as slaves poured in fragrant salts ‘is what it is to be a king!’
HAVING bathed and had his wound dressed, he sat down to make proof of a Persian supper; but at that moment he heard a loud and mournful wailing close at hand, and asking the cause, was told that the royal robe of Darius had been brought to the captive princesses, and that they were lamenting the death of their lord. He immediately sent to inform them that Darius had escaped, and added that they should have no fears, for they should retain all their honours and titles.
The next day he offered a visit to Sisygambis, the mother of Darius.* The wife, Statira, he would not attempt to see, since he knew that the very sight of her would be an insult and injury to her husband; nor did he wish to be tempted to make her his own by the sight or even the report of her beauty, which was said to excel that of any woman in Asia.
* Sisygambis (? - 323 BC), mother of Darius III of Persia.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What prompted Alexander to interrupt his meal after the Battle of Issus in 333 BC?
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Darius’s servants prepared his bath and a supper. Alexander captured Darius’s camp. He had Darius’s bath and supper.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IAfter. IIIntend. IIIWhich.