conquest of egypt.—foundation op alexandria.

alexander now led an expedition into egypt, whither he had set out at first (from tyre); and marching from gaza, on the seventh day he arrived at pelusium341 in egypt. his fleet had also set sail from phoenicia to egypt; and he found the ships already moored at pelusium.342 when mazaces the persian, whom darius had appointed viceroy of egypt,343 ascertained how the battle at issus had resulted, that darius had fled in disgraceful flight, and that phoenicia, syria, and most of arabia were already in alexander’s possession, as he had no persian force with which he could offer resistance, he admitted alexander into the cities and the country in a friendly 141way.344 alexander introduced a garrison into pelusium, and ordering the men in the ships to sail up the river as far as the city of memphis,345 he went in person towards heliopolis,346 having the river nile347 on his right. he reached that city through the desert, after getting possession of all the places on the march through the voluntary surrender of the inhabitants. thence he 142crossed the stream and came to memphis; where he offered sacrifice to apis348 and the other gods, and celebrated a gymnastic and musical contest, the most distinguished artists in these matters coming to him from greece. from memphis he sailed down the river towards the sea, embarking the shield-bearing guards, the archers, the agrianians, and of the cavalry the royal squadron of the companions. coming to canobus,349 he sailed round the marian lake,350 and disembarked where now is situated the city of alexandria, which takes its name from him. the position seemed to him a very fine one in which to found a city, and he foresaw that it would become a prosperous one.351 therefore he was seized by an ardent desire to undertake the enterprise, and himself marked out the boundaries of the city, pointing out the place where the agora was to be constructed, where the temples were to be built, stating how many there were to be, and to what grecian gods they were to be dedicated, and specially marking a spot for a temple to the egyptian isis.352 he also pointed out where the wall was to be carried round it. in regard to these matters be offered sacrifice, and the victims appeared favourable.