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Ok, Sikander. So, for a start, do be kind to a gentle non-combatent lady, and tell me the sources for *Persian*, Achaemenid women being ordinarily present in battles. Please?
I feel I haven't got Nick's point...Thank you!

Hi Babara ---Although you invited Sikander to answer, I am perfectly happy to provide you with some examples.*** In 414 BC Mania, widow of the ruler of Dascyleion, convinces the local satrap that she is her husband's equal, maintains and extends her realm and takes part in Persian military expeditions.*** But surpassing all was Artemisia, female commander and military advisor under Xerxes. Herodotus writes, apparently quite embarassed: "It seems to me a marvel that she - a woman - should have taken part in the campaign against Greece."*** Xenophon relates how Epyaxa, Queen of Cilicia [a Persian vassal state], supports the campaign of Cyrus the Younger on her own account, indifferent of the policies of her husband King Syennis. Epyaxa had her own army and her own Royal budget.*** Wieseh+¦fer has pointed out that Persian women from the ruling classes traveled extensively throughout the empire on their own behalf, accompanied by their personal servants. When commander Mardonius returns from the war in Ionia in 498 BC, a party of three high ranking women and one man is sent out to meet him.*** It is Herodotus who remarks that the formidable Atossa [wife of Darius I] "had all the power".*** Amestris, Queen Mother of Artaxerxes I, had the reputation to be more bloodthirsty than any Persian king had ever been. The same is said about Parysatis, the wife of Darius II and mother of Artaxerxes II and Cyrus the Younger.Sources: Cook, 1983. Warner, 1986. Marincola, 1996. And others.Regards ---Nick

Greetings Nick and Babi,Could not have said it better, Nick. Thank you; saved me the time pulling the Persians together. I will refrain from covering the others... ie Celts, Africans, Illyrians, Egyptians, Chinese, Thai, etcRegards,
Sikander

Hello SusanSince Alexander tried to engage Darius in combat each time he got near him, it's not hard to imagine that this is exactly what Alexander would have done if he'd caught up with a live Darius. Alexander was a great warrior, his own courage to face death in battle was never questioned. There is no reason to believe he would have wanted someone else to do his killing for him. In Alexander's warrior culture, for him to have fought and killed Darius in single combat would have been a meaningful climax to his war against Persia.Looking at it from Alexander's perspective, it is also not hard to understand Alexander's anger at the man who had stolen this chance for glory from him. Alexander is said to have objected to the method of Darius's death which was an inglorious end for a king. His pursuit and punishment of Bessus is also easy to understand. Bessus was a traitor. A man who would betray one king might as easily betray another.As regards the death of Sisygambis, you are right, no one knows anything for certain. All we have is the one version. It is an odd story to repeat, though, if were not true. One would have to ask what purpose it served or whose purpose. Since Alexander had many ancient detractors, it's odd that no one came up with a counter-version to give the lie to this one since this one favours Alexander so much.Regards
Halil

Hello Susan, it has been a while since we have spoken.I must confess that I have taken Mary Renault on blindly regarding the death of Sisygambis. She states in her book, "the nature of A." that she dies of voluntary inanition- so I have to confess that I don't know the source where it is mentioned that she died of this cause after hearing about Alexander's death. Renault does research her stuff very well and so I am inclined to believe that if I probe a bit amongst the sources I will find the same story.Best regards,
Dean.

In the 1920 Dutch novel "Iskander" by Louis Couperus Sisigambis also dies of voluntary self-starvation after Alexander has gone. The source for this must be older than Renault.Regards ---Nick

I would imagine they both used Curtius - "Finally, she surrendered to her sorrow. She covered her head, turned away from her granddaughter and grandson, who fell at her knees to plead with her, and withdrew simultaneously from nourishment and the daylight. Five days after deciding on death, she expired."Best regards,Linda Ann

Hi Linda -Yes, that is the one. Thanks for the quote!Regards ---Nick

Hello,Yes thanks a lot for the quote,All the best,
Dean.

Actually Alexander would have liked nothing better than to have Darius serve under him as a Client-King. He was always one for grand gestures, and it naturally makes him Greater than the Great King :-)You are entirely correct about events after Alexander's death. The Royal Family had to be destroyed, hence the death of Alexander's wives and most certainly Darius' son. Sisygambris may have taken her own life, but it is rather doubtful it would have been by starvation considering what was happening around her.

But if Sisigambis did take her own life shortly after learning the news of Alexander's death, she would surely have had sufficient time - the few days mentioned - to end her life by starvation. The feeding frenzy of the Macedonian sharks had not yet begun, and in Curtius' version it was Sisigambis' justified fears for the future of her family and herself that prompted her suicide, not actual events.

If one were somewhat cynical, too, one could always suppose that, if Perdikkas and the others had seen that Sisygambis was prepared to take her own life, they would just let her get on with it, and concentrate their efforts on eliminating those who were slightly more keen to stay alive.All the bestMarcus