Alexander in Gaza
The city of Gaza was attacked by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It withstood his siege for two months. When it finally fell, Alexander took an unusually ruthless revenge on its ruler, the eunuch, Batis, although one that was wholly in keeping with his self-image of being a modern Achilles.
Batis was tied to the back of a chariot and dragged round the city by Alexander himself until he died. This punishment was a reflection of that which was meted out to Hector of Troy by Achilles in revenge for the former's killing of Achilles' friend Patroclus. The reflection, however, is not exact for Hector was already dead. Achilles in his fury was 'merely' desecrating the Trojan's body.
Alexander's treatment of Batis was unusual because he was normally very clement towards his defeated enemies - see how he rewarded Porus, who in 326 BC, gave him one of the toughest fights of his wars of conquest alongside the Hydaspes River in the Punjab. Porus was not only permitted to live but was given back his kingdom.
Batis was tied to the back of a chariot and dragged round the city by Alexander himself until he died. This punishment was a reflection of that which was meted out to Hector of Troy by Achilles in revenge for the former's killing of Achilles' friend Patroclus. The reflection, however, is not exact for Hector was already dead. Achilles in his fury was 'merely' desecrating the Trojan's body.
Alexander's treatment of Batis was unusual because he was normally very clement towards his defeated enemies - see how he rewarded Porus, who in 326 BC, gave him one of the toughest fights of his wars of conquest alongside the Hydaspes River in the Punjab. Porus was not only permitted to live but was given back his kingdom.
2 have commented:
I think your film showed A G being kind to the memory of Darius, too, did it not?
Yes. He did not fight bravely. In fact, when things got hairy (at Issus and Gaugamela, he did a runner) but Darius was a king and Alexander was now his successor.
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