[217] See Xenophon (_Anabasis_, i. 2, 20, 21).
[218] _Curtius_ (iii. 11) says, that Alexander wondered at his own good fortune, when he observed how easily Arsames might have blocked up the pass. Cyrus the Younger was equally fortunate in finding this impregnable pass abandoned by Syennesis, king of Cilicia. See Xenophon (_Anabasis_, i. 2, 21).
[219] Now called Tersoos-Chai. See _Curtius_, iii. 12; _Justin_, xi. 8; and Lucian (_De Domo_, i.). At Tarsus the emperor Julian was buried. See _Ammianus_, xxv. 10, 5.
[220] Probably none of the physicians would venture to prescribe, for fear of being held responsible for his death, which seemed likely to ensue. Nine years after, when Hephaestion died of fever at Ecbatana, Alexander caused the physician who had attended him to be crucified. See _Arrian_, vii. 14; Plutarch (_Alexander_, 72).
[221] Cf. _Curtius_, iii. 14-16; _Diodorus_, xvii. 31; _Justin_, xi. 8; Plutarch (_Alex._, 19). The barbarous conduct of Alexander towards Philotas four years after, when contrasted with his noble confidence in Philip, shows the bad effect of his unparalleled success, upon his moral character.
[222] This pass was called the _Syrian Gates_, lying between the shore of the Gulf of Issus and Mount Amanus. Cyrus the Younger was six days marching from Tarsus through this pass. See Xenophon (_Anab._, i. 4). The Greeks often gave the name of Assyria to the country usually called by them Syria. The Hebrew name for it is Aram (highland). Cf. Cicero (_ad Diversos_, xv. 4, 4); _Diod._, xiv. 21.
[223] A city of Cilicia on the coast, a little west of the mouth of the Cydnus.
[224] Said to have been the last of the Assyrian kings.
[225] Cf. _Strabo_ (xiv. 5) for a description of this statue.
[226] This was, doubtless, the arrow-headed writing which has been deciphered by Sir Henry Rawlinson. Cf. _Herodotus_, iv. 87; _Thucydides_, iv. 50.
[227] Now called Mezetlu. It was a Rhodian colony on the coast of Cilicia, between the rivers Cydnus and Lamus. It was afterwards re-named Pompeiopolis. The birthplace of Philemon, Aratus, and Chrysippus.
[229] Asander was a nephew of Parmenio. He afterwards brought a reinforcement to Alexander from Greece (_Arrian_, iv. 7). After the king’s death he obtained the rule of Caria, but joining the party of Ptolemy and Cassander, he was defeated by Antigonus, b.c. 313.