“Brothers, I brought you something to eat.” Hielos went into the small tent.
The quiet military tent suddenly became lively. The few people who were lying down, stood up and like a hungry wolf grabbed the food from Hielos’ arms as quickly as they could.
“Hielos, if you didn’t come, I’ll starve to death.” Matonis chewed the half-cooked horse meat, which he usually disdained, but now it was indescribable delicious in his mouth.
“I got it from Antonios. Menon asked them to form a special team and risk being attacked by Persians to drag back the dead horses from the battlefield.” Hielos sighed and looked at the man lying in the innermost part of the tent, and asked with concern: “How is Davos? Did he woke up?”
“He woke up. But he was in daze all this time, he seems to not recognize those who speak with him and he doesn’t say a word. It seems he is currently asleep now.” Giorgris answered gloomily.
“I think he may have been sitting on Charon’s1 boat when he accidentally fell into Lethe2, now he has lost his memory.” Olivos said.
“Shut up!” Matonis reached out and pressed on Olivos’ head and pushed him away.
Hielos forcefully separated the two men and screamed: “We’re all from the same town in Thessaly. In the land thousands of miles away from home, we are surrounded by enemies. If we don’t unite, I’m afraid we won’t be able to return.”
The tent suddenly fell silent.
Hielos felt the heavy atmosphere, he said comfortingly: “I’ve seen several warriors who have been badly hit in the head, at first they’re confused, but they’ll be normal after taking a rest. Maybe by tomorrow morning Davos will be able to greet us with a smile.”
“Davos is also a veteran warrior, how could he fall when pursuing!” Olivos had just irritatedly said a couple of words, and when he saw Matonis staring at him again, he immediately closed his mouth.
“Hielos, did Cyrus the Younger won or got defeated?” The temporary silence made Giorgris unable to help but speak out the most concerned but fearful problem that all of them were facing.
Previously, when they returned to the battlefield after pursuing the enemies who had fled, they then only found the Persian troops still there, while the Cyrus the Younger’s troops had disappeared. Because it was getting late, the two armies had no desire to continue fighting, they confronted each other for a while, then the Persian troops retreated.
Only then did the Greek mercenaries discover that their camp had been looted. The soldiers were tired and hungry, and of course they had no energy to think about and ask this very important question.
“Cyrus the Younger had led the cavalry. Whether they were victorious or got defeated, he could easily leave the battlefield and join us tomorrow to fight the persian king once more.” Hielos lightly said.
“But the Persian king’s army was much larger than ours, if Cyrus the Younger got defeated, then there will be fewer troops to join us tomorrow.” Georgris worriedly said.
“What are you afraid of? We have more than 10,000 Hoplites! The Persians are as timid as rabbits! No matter how many people dare to fight us! Today, I haven’t killed enough to be satisfied, there’s another battle tomorrow is just right!” As soon as Matonis heard it, he encouraged everyone in his own way.
“Even if Cyrus the Younger was defeated, we defeated their left wing and killed many of them. Tomorrow, they will only have fewer soldiers than today!” Hielos is equally confident.
“These damn Persians destroying our camp, stole our food and stole a lot of my silver coins! Tomorrow we’re going to beat them and get our things back!” Matonis said angrily.
“That’s right!” Everyone hated the enemy: “We should not only take back our things, but also take their things.”
“Oh!” Olivos thought of something and excitedly said: “I heard that the women of Cyrus the Younger also got robbed, and only one manage to escape. That’s the one I told you last time….a beautiful woman like Aphrodite, I heard that she was taken into the camp by Clearchus, he will definitely be happy tonight!….” Olivos gulped and said in a sullen voice.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Hielos warned him.
“Olivos, You have to be able to defeat the Persian king tomorrow and grab one of his woman.”
“Oh, this is a great idea! Matonis, you really are smart once in a while.”
“Damn Olivos, do you want to get beaten again!”
While several people were talking and laughing, a hoarse voice came from the innermost part of the tent: “Don’t just think that Cyrus the Younger only got defeated! He was killed!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tissaphernes arrived at the tent of the Persian king, and Massabadi, the eunuch, was already waiting at the door: “The king is waiting for you, quickly go in!”
When Tissaphernes gave his sword to the royal guard next to him, he found that the eunuch, whom the Persian King trusted the most, was somewhat melancholy and couldn’t help but think about: ‘Is his majesty hurt badly?’
The tent was filled with the rich aroma of frankincense3 and with a mixed scent of a few herbs.
Artaxerxes lay on his side on the couch, dressed in a gorgeous scarlet gown and his bare chest was wrapped in a white cloth, with a faint blood seeping out. A beautiful maid is gently rubbing his shoulders and next stood the physician, Ctesias4.
When he saw Tissaphernes coming in, Ctesias immediately withdrew.
Artaxerxes asked him to wait outside his tent so that he could be summoned immediately in case of any change in his condition.
Tissaphernes watched as the greek physician withdraw from the tent, half-kneeling and bowing his head, then said: “Your highness, please punish me for losing the battle!”
Artaxerxes did not speak and Tissaphernes began to feel a little uneasy, and he knelt more motionlessly on the ground.
It took a long time till he heard Artaxerxes speak: “You were defeated, Tissaphernes. But at least you dared to fight. I heard that you led your cavalry around the Greek’s Hoplite and attacked their rear, only to be defeated by their Peltast5 and almost got hit by a greek javelin.”
“Yes, your highness. You know everything!” Tissaphernes sighed in relief.
“You’re much braver than those who run away before they fought! Get up!” Artaxerxes was somewhat dissatisfied with the performance of the Persian troop’s left wing yesterday, he then increase his voice: “I’m not as lucky as you are. Cyrus’s spear struck me, but fortunately my armor was strong enough and allowed me to have the opportunity to strike him down!”
Wasn’t Cyrus the Younger got hit by a spear from the guard Mithridates6? Tissaphernes was surprised, but he did not show it. Instead, he spoke with admiration and excitement.
“Your highness, everyone used to say that Cyrus was brave. Yesterday on the battlefield, when we were about to suffer defeat, your Majesty, at great risk that a king should not take, bravely stepped forward and personally killed Cyrus the rebel! And made us won an incredible victory! Your highness, you deserve to be the king of kings! You were born brave!”
Masabadi and Ctesias also immediately expressed their admiration for the heroic performance of the Persian king.
Artaxerxes looked flushed and said with resentment: “Cyrus has always been victorious since childhood. As a brother, I have always let him be. Last time he tried to assassinate me at the ceremony, but for mother’s sake, I forgave him! I did not expect that my kindness was regarded by him as weak and deceptive and dared to start a rebellion!! For the sake of the empire’s stability, even if he is my brother, I have to execute him!”
“The king’s benevolence is well known to all the empire’s people! Cyrus who doesn’t know anything, is guilty of seducing outsiders and invaded the empire’s land!..” Tissaphernes spoke with great enthusiasm.
Artaxerxes nodded and coughed a few times, just now he spent a lot of energy talking: “My Satrap, you have exposed Cyrus’ conspiracy to me many times, and your governance of Asia Minor has always been excellent! When this rebellion is over, I will reward you well!”
“Your Majesty, as the satrap of Asia Minor, this is my duty!” Tissaphernes solemnly said.
Tissaphernes showed a complex look on his face, A large earthen pot was placed on the wooden table in front of his left hand: “This is Cyrus’ head and hands that was cut off by Masabadi, take it to the Greek camp and let them surrender immediately!!”
Note: There were two parties that have left a record of the Battle of Cunaxa, one is Xenophon and the other is the Persian Physician Ctesias, and his record was quoted by Plutarch during the Roman Empire in his 《Biography of Artaxerxes》, in which the Greek’s Hoplite defeated the Persian’s right wing a lot harder than what Xenophon had written. I chose Xenophon’s account in the novel, although his description is exaggerated, it can explain some of the strange performance of the Persians after the war.
1. Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead.
2. Lethe was one of the five rivers of the underworld of Hades.
3. Frankincense is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from Boswellia trees.
4. Ctesias was a Greek physician and historian.
5. Peltast was a type of light infantry, originating in Thrace and Paeonia, who often served as skirmishers in Hellenic and Hellenistic armies.
6. Mithridates was a young persian soldier who accidentaly killed Cyrus the Younger and he later got executed for kill stealing.
“Brothers, I brought you something to eat.” Hielos went into the small tent.
The quiet military tent suddenly became lively. The few people who were lying down, stood up and like a hungry wolf grabbed the food from Hielos’ arms as quickly as they could.
“Hielos, if you didn’t come, I’ll starve to death.” Matonis chewed the half-cooked horse meat, which he usually disdained, but now it was indescribable delicious in his mouth.
“I got it from Antonios. Menon asked them to form a special team and risk being attacked by Persians to drag back the dead horses from the battlefield.” Hielos sighed and looked at the man lying in the innermost part of the tent, and asked with concern: “How is Davos? Did he woke up?”
“He woke up. But he was in daze all this time, he seems to not recognize those who speak with him and he doesn’t say a word. It seems he is currently asleep now.” Giorgris answered gloomily.
“I think he may have been sitting on Charon’s1 boat when he accidentally fell into Lethe2, now he has lost his memory.” Olivos said.
“Shut up!” Matonis reached out and pressed on Olivos’ head and pushed him away.
Hielos forcefully separated the two men and screamed: “We’re all from the same town in Thessaly. In the land thousands of miles away from home, we are surrounded by enemies. If we don’t unite, I’m afraid we won’t be able to return.”
The tent suddenly fell silent.
Hielos felt the heavy atmosphere, he said comfortingly: “I’ve seen several warriors who have been badly hit in the head, at first they’re confused, but they’ll be normal after taking a rest. Maybe by tomorrow morning Davos will be able to greet us with a smile.”
“Davos is also a veteran warrior, how could he fall when pursuing!” Olivos had just irritatedly said a couple of words, and when he saw Matonis staring at him again, he immediately closed his mouth.
“Hielos, did Cyrus the Younger won or got defeated?” The temporary silence made Giorgris unable to help but speak out the most concerned but fearful problem that all of them were facing.
Previously, when they returned to the battlefield after pursuing the enemies who had fled, they then only found the Persian troops still there, while the Cyrus the Younger’s troops had disappeared. Because it was getting late, the two armies had no desire to continue fighting, they confronted each other for a while, then the Persian troops retreated.
Only then did the Greek mercenaries discover that their camp had been looted. The soldiers were tired and hungry, and of course they had no energy to think about and ask this very important question.
“Cyrus the Younger had led the cavalry. Whether they were victorious or got defeated, he could easily leave the battlefield and join us tomorrow to fight the persian king once more.” Hielos lightly said.
“But the Persian king’s army was much larger than ours, if Cyrus the Younger got defeated, then there will be fewer troops to join us tomorrow.” Georgris worriedly said.
“What are you afraid of? We have more than 10,000 Hoplites! The Persians are as timid as rabbits! No matter how many people dare to fight us! Today, I haven’t killed enough to be satisfied, there’s another battle tomorrow is just right!” As soon as Matonis heard it, he encouraged everyone in his own way.
“Even if Cyrus the Younger was defeated, we defeated their left wing and killed many of them. Tomorrow, they will only have fewer soldiers than today!” Hielos is equally confident.
“These damn Persians destroying our camp, stole our food and stole a lot of my silver coins! Tomorrow we’re going to beat them and get our things back!” Matonis said angrily.
“That’s right!” Everyone hated the enemy: “We should not only take back our things, but also take their things.”
“Oh!” Olivos thought of something and excitedly said: “I heard that the women of Cyrus the Younger also got robbed, and only one manage to escape. That’s the one I told you last time….a beautiful woman like Aphrodite, I heard that she was taken into the camp by Clearchus, he will definitely be happy tonight!….” Olivos gulped and said in a sullen voice.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Hielos warned him.
“Olivos, You have to be able to defeat the Persian king tomorrow and grab one of his woman.”
“Oh, this is a great idea! Matonis, you really are smart once in a while.”
“Damn Olivos, do you want to get beaten again!”
While several people were talking and laughing, a hoarse voice came from the innermost part of the tent: “Don’t just think that Cyrus the Younger only got defeated! He was killed!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tissaphernes arrived at the tent of the Persian king, and Massabadi, the eunuch, was already waiting at the door: “The king is waiting for you, quickly go in!”
When Tissaphernes gave his sword to the royal guard next to him, he found that the eunuch, whom the Persian King trusted the most, was somewhat melancholy and couldn’t help but think about: ‘Is his majesty hurt badly?’
The tent was filled with the rich aroma of frankincense3 and with a mixed scent of a few herbs.
Artaxerxes lay on his side on the couch, dressed in a gorgeous scarlet gown and his bare chest was wrapped in a white cloth, with a faint blood seeping out. A beautiful maid is gently rubbing his shoulders and next stood the physician, Ctesias4.
When he saw Tissaphernes coming in, Ctesias immediately withdrew.
Artaxerxes asked him to wait outside his tent so that he could be summoned immediately in case of any change in his condition.
Tissaphernes watched as the greek physician withdraw from the tent, half-kneeling and bowing his head, then said: “Your highness, please punish me for losing the battle!”
Artaxerxes did not speak and Tissaphernes began to feel a little uneasy, and he knelt more motionlessly on the ground.
It took a long time till he heard Artaxerxes speak: “You were defeated, Tissaphernes. But at least you dared to fight. I heard that you led your cavalry around the Greek’s Hoplite and attacked their rear, only to be defeated by their Peltast5 and almost got hit by a greek javelin.”
“Yes, your highness. You know everything!” Tissaphernes sighed in relief.
“You’re much braver than those who run away before they fought! Get up!” Artaxerxes was somewhat dissatisfied with the performance of the Persian troop’s left wing yesterday, he then increase his voice: “I’m not as lucky as you are. Cyrus’s spear struck me, but fortunately my armor was strong enough and allowed me to have the opportunity to strike him down!”
Wasn’t Cyrus the Younger got hit by a spear from the guard Mithridates6? Tissaphernes was surprised, but he did not show it. Instead, he spoke with admiration and excitement.
“Your highness, everyone used to say that Cyrus was brave. Yesterday on the battlefield, when we were about to suffer defeat, your Majesty, at great risk that a king should not take, bravely stepped forward and personally killed Cyrus the rebel! And made us won an incredible victory! Your highness, you deserve to be the king of kings! You were born brave!”
Masabadi and Ctesias also immediately expressed their admiration for the heroic performance of the Persian king.
Artaxerxes looked flushed and said with resentment: “Cyrus has always been victorious since childhood. As a brother, I have always let him be. Last time he tried to assassinate me at the ceremony, but for mother’s sake, I forgave him! I did not expect that my kindness was regarded by him as weak and deceptive and dared to start a rebellion!! For the sake of the empire’s stability, even if he is my brother, I have to execute him!”
“The king’s benevolence is well known to all the empire’s people! Cyrus who doesn’t know anything, is guilty of seducing outsiders and invaded the empire’s land!..” Tissaphernes spoke with great enthusiasm.
Artaxerxes nodded and coughed a few times, just now he spent a lot of energy talking: “My Satrap, you have exposed Cyrus’ conspiracy to me many times, and your governance of Asia Minor has always been excellent! When this rebellion is over, I will reward you well!”
“Your Majesty, as the satrap of Asia Minor, this is my duty!” Tissaphernes solemnly said.
Tissaphernes showed a complex look on his face, A large earthen pot was placed on the wooden table in front of his left hand: “This is Cyrus’ head and hands that was cut off by Masabadi, take it to the Greek camp and let them surrender immediately!!”
Note: There were two parties that have left a record of the Battle of Cunaxa, one is Xenophon and the other is the Persian Physician Ctesias, and his record was quoted by Plutarch during the Roman Empire in his 《Biography of Artaxerxes》, in which the Greek’s Hoplite defeated the Persian’s right wing a lot harder than what Xenophon had written. I chose Xenophon’s account in the novel, although his description is exaggerated, it can explain some of the strange performance of the Persians after the war.
1. Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead.
2. Lethe was one of the five rivers of the underworld of Hades.
3. Frankincense is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from Boswellia trees.
4. Ctesias was a Greek physician and historian.
5. Peltast was a type of light infantry, originating in Thrace and Paeonia, who often served as skirmishers in Hellenic and Hellenistic armies.
6. Mithridates was a young persian soldier who accidentaly killed Cyrus the Younger and he later got executed for kill stealing.
