Chapter 8

From this point the Hellenes marched through the country of the Macrones three stages—ten parasangs, and on the first day they reached the river, which formed the boundary between the land of the Macrones and the land of the Scythenians. Above them, on their right, they had a country of the sternest and ruggedest character, and on their left another river, into which the frontier river discharges itself, and which they must cross. This was thickly fringed with trees which, though not of any great bulk, were closely packed. As soon as they came up to them, the Hellenes proceeded to cut them down in their haste to get out of the place as soon as possible. But the Macrones, armed with wicker shields and lances and hair tunics, were already drawn up to receive them opposite the crossing. They were cheering one another on, and kept up a steady pelt of stones into the river, though they failed to reach the other side or do any harm.

From this point, the Hellenes marched through the country of the Macrones for three stages, covering ten parasangs. On the first day, they reached the river that formed the boundary between the Macrones and the Scythenians. On their right, the land rose steeply and was extremely rugged. On their left was another river, which they had to cross and into which the boundary river flowed. Trees grew thickly along this river. They were not very large, but they stood close together. As soon as the Hellenes reached them, they began cutting them down, eager to leave the place as quickly as possible. But the Macrones were already lined up opposite the crossing, armed with wicker shields and lances and wearing hair tunics. They encouraged one another and kept throwing stones into the river. But the stones did not reach the other side or cause any harm.

At this juncture one of the light infantry came up to Xenophon; he had been, he said, a slave at Athens, and he wished to tell him that he recognised the speech of these people. "I think," said he, "that this must be my native country, and if there is no objection I will have a talk with them." "No objection at all," replied Xenophon, "pray talk to them, and ask them first, who they are." In answer to this question they said, "they were Macrones." "Well, then," said he, "ask them why they are drawn up in battle and want to fight with us." They answered, "Because you are invading our country." The generals bade him say: "If so, it is with not intention certainly of doing it or you any harm: but we have been at war with the king, and are now returning to Hellas, and all we want is to reach the sea." The others asked, "Were they willing to give them pledges to that effect?" They replied: "Yes, they were ready to give and receive pledges to that effect." Then the Macrones gave a barbaric lance to the Hellenes, and the Hellenes a Hellenic lance to them: "for these," they said, "would serve as pledges," and both sides called upon the gods to witness.

At this point, one of the light infantry came up to Xenophon. He said he had been a slave at Athens and recognized the language these people spoke. "I think this must be my native country," he said. "If there is no objection, I will talk to them." "No objection at all," Xenophon replied. "Please talk to them, and first ask them who they are." When asked, they said, "We are Macrones." "Well, then," Xenophon said, "ask them why they are drawn up for battle and want to fight us." They answered, "Because you are invading our country." The generals told the man to say: "If so, we certainly have no intention of harming your country or your people. We have been at war with the king and are now returning to Hellas. All we want is to reach the sea." The Macrones asked, "Are you willing to give us pledges to that effect?" The Greeks replied, "Yes, we are ready to give and receive pledges to that effect." Then the Macrones gave a barbaric lance to the Hellenes, and the Hellenes gave them a Hellenic lance. "These," they said, "will serve as pledges." Both sides called on the gods to witness the exchange.

After the pledges were exchanged, the Macrones fell to vigorously hewing down trees and constructing a road to help them across, mingling freely with the Hellenes and fraternising in their midst, and they afforded them as good as market as they could, and for three days conducted them on their march, until they had brought them safely to the confines of the Colchians. At this point they were confronted by a great mountain chain, which however was accessible, and on it the Colchians were drawn up for battle. In the first instance, the Hellenes drew up opposite in line of battle, as though they were minded to assault the hill in that order; but afterwards the generals determined to hold a council of war, and consider how to make the fairest fight.

After the pledges were exchanged, the Macrones set to work cutting down trees and building a road to help the Hellenes cross. They mingled freely with the Hellenes and made friends among them. They also provided them with as good a market as they could. For three days, they guided the Hellenes on their march, until they had brought them safely to the borders of the Colchians. There the Hellenes faced a great mountain range, though it could be crossed. The Colchians were drawn up for battle on the mountains. At first, the Hellenes formed a battle line opposite them, as if they intended to attack the hill in that formation. But then the generals decided to hold a council of war and consider how best to fight.

Accordingly Xenophon said: "I am not for advancing in line, but advise to form companies by columns. To begin with, the line," he urged, "would be scattered and thrown into disorder at once; for we shall find the mountain full of inequalities, it will be pathless here and easy to traverse there. The mere fact of first having formed in line, and then seeing the line thrown into disorder, must exercise a disheartening effect. Again, if we advance several deep, the enemy will none the less overlap us, and turn their superfluous numbers to account as best they like; while, if we march in shallow order, we may fully expect our line to be cut through and through by the thick rain of missiles and rush of men, and if this happen anywhere along the line, the whole line will equally suffer. No; my notion is to form columns by companies, covering ground sufficient with spaces between the companies to allow the last companies of each flank to be outside the enemy's flanks. Thus we shall with our extreme companies be outside the enemy's line, and the best men at the head of their columns will lead the attack, and every company will pick its way where the ground is easy; also it will be difficult for the enemy to force his way into the intervening spaces, when there are companies on both sides; nor will it be easy for him to cut in twain any individual company marching in column. If, too, any particular company should be pressed, the neighbouring company will come to the rescue, or if at any point any single company succeed in reaching the height, from that moment not one man of the enemy will stand his ground."

So Xenophon said: "I do not favor advancing in a line. I advise forming companies into columns instead. First, the line would immediately break up and fall into disorder," he argued. "The mountain is uneven, with no path in some places and easy passage in others. Simply forming a line and then seeing it fall into disorder would be discouraging. Also, if we advance in a deep formation, the enemy will still extend beyond our flanks. They can use their extra numbers however they like. But if we march in a shallow formation, we can expect the enemy to break through our line. They will shower us with missiles and charge at us. If they break through anywhere, the entire line will suffer. "Instead, I propose forming columns by company, with spaces between them. We should spread out far enough for the outermost companies on both flanks to extend beyond the enemy's flanks. In this way, our outermost companies will be outside the enemy's line. The best men will lead the attack at the head of their columns, and each company will choose an easy path. It will also be difficult for the enemy to force their way into the spaces between companies. There will be companies on both sides of each space. Nor will it be easy for the enemy to cut any individual company in two as it marches in column. If any company comes under pressure, a neighboring company will come to its rescue. Or, if any single company reaches the heights, from that moment not one enemy soldier will stand his ground."

This proposal was carried, and they formed into columns by companies¹. Then Xenophon, returning from the right wing to the left, addressed the soldiers. "Men," he said, "these men whom you see in front of you are the sole obstacles still interposed between us and the haven of our hopes so long deferred. We will swallow them up whole, without cooking², if we can."

The proposal passed, and they formed into columns by companies¹. Then Xenophon returned from the right wing to the left and addressed the soldiers. "Men," he said, "the men you see ahead are all that stand between us and the haven we have hoped for so long. We will swallow them whole, without cooking², if we can."

The several divisions fell into position, the companies were formed into columns, and the result was a total of something like eighty companies of heavy infantry, each company consisting on an average of a hundred men. The light infantry and bowmen were arranged in three divisions—two outside to support the left and the right respectively, and the third in the centre—each division consisting of about six hundred men³.

The divisions moved into position, and the companies formed columns. There were about eighty companies of heavy infantry, each with an average of a hundred men. The light infantry and bowmen formed three divisions. Two supported the left and right flanks, while the third stood in the center. Each division had about six hundred men³.

Before starting, the generals passed the order to offer prayer; and with the prayer and battle hymn rising from their lips they commenced their advance. Cheirisophus and Xenophon, and the light infantry with them, advanced outside the enemy's line to right and left, and the enemy, seeing their advance, made an effort to keep parallel and confront them, but in order to do so, as he extended partly to right and partly to left, he was pulled to pieces, and there was a large space or hollow left in the centre of his line. Seeing them separate thus, the light infantry attached to the Arcadian battalion, under command of Aeschines, an Arcarnanian, mistook the movement for flight, and with a loud shout rushed on, and these were the first to scale the mountain summit; but they were closely followed up by the Arcadian heavy infantry, under command of Cleanor of Orchomenus.

Before the advance, the generals ordered the men to pray. Then, with prayers and a battle hymn on their lips, they began to advance. Cheirisophus and Xenophon advanced with their light infantry on the right and left, beyond the ends of the enemy’s line. The enemy tried to keep pace and face them. But as the enemy stretched out to the right and left, their line broke apart, leaving a large gap in the center. The light infantry attached to the Arcadian battalion saw the enemy line split apart and mistook the movement for a retreat. Under the command of Aeschines, an Arcarnanian, they rushed forward with a loud shout. They were the first to reach the mountain summit, closely followed by the Arcadian heavy infantry under Cleanor of Orchomenus.

When they began running in that way, the enemy stood their ground no longer, but betook themselves to flight, one in one direction, one in another, and the Hellenes scaled the hill and found quarters in numerous villages which contained supplies in abundance. Here, generally speaking, there was nothing to excite their wonderment, but the numbers of bee-hives were indeed astonishing, and so were certain properties of the honey⁴. The effect upon the soldiers who tasted the combs was, that they all went for the nonce quite off their heads, and suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea, with a total inability to stand steady on their legs. A small dose produced a condition not unlike violent drunkenness, a large one an attack very like a fit of madness, and some dropped down, apparently at death's door. So they lay, hundreds of them, as if there had been a great defeat, a prey to the cruellest despondency. But the next day, none had died; and almost at the same hour of the day at which they had eaten they recovered their senses, and on the third or fourth day got on their legs again like convalescents after a severe course of medical treatment.

When they began running like that, the enemy no longer held their ground. They fled in different directions. The Hellenes climbed the hill and found lodging in many villages with abundant supplies. For the most part, nothing there surprised them. But the number of beehives was astonishing, as were certain properties of the honey⁴. All the soldiers who tasted the honeycomb temporarily lost their senses. They suffered from vomiting and diarrhea and could not stand steadily. A small amount had an effect much like severe drunkenness. A large amount brought on something very like a fit of madness, and some collapsed, apparently near death. Hundreds of them lay there as if they had suffered a great defeat, overwhelmed by despair. But the next day, none had died. They recovered their senses at almost the same hour of the day as they had eaten the honey. On the third or fourth day, they got back on their feet, like patients recovering from severe medical treatment.

From this place they marched on two stages—seven parasangs—and reached the sea at Trapezus⁵, a populous Hellenic city on the Euxine Sea, a colony of the Sinopeans, in the territory of the Colchians. Here they halted about thirty days in the villages of the Colchians, which they used as a base of operations to ravage the whole territory of Colchis. The men of Trapezus supplied the army with a market, entertained them, and gave them, as gifts of hospitality, oxen and wheat and wine. Further, they negotiated with them in behalf of their neighbours the Colchians, who dwelt in the plain for the most part, and from this folk also came gifts of hospitality in the shape of cattle. And now the Hellenes made preparation for the sacrifice which they had vowed, and a sufficient number of cattle came in for them to offer thank-offerings for safe guidance to Zeus the Saviour, and to Heracles⁶, and to the other gods, according to their vows. They instituted also a gymnastic contest on the mountain side, just where they were quartered, and chose Dracontius, a Spartan (who had been banished from home when a lad, having unintentionally slain another boy with a blow of his dagger), to superintend the course, and be president of the games.

From there they marched two stages, covering seven parasangs, and reached the sea at Trapezus⁵. It was a populous Hellenic city on the Euxine Sea, a colony of the Sinopeans in Colchian territory. They stayed about thirty days in the villages of the Colchians. From there, they ravaged the whole territory of Colchis. The men of Trapezus provided a market for the army and entertained the soldiers. They also gave them oxen, wheat, and wine as gifts of hospitality. They negotiated with the Hellenes on behalf of their neighbors, the Colchians, who lived mostly in the plain. The Colchians also gave the Hellenes cattle as gifts of hospitality. The Hellenes now prepared for the sacrifice they had vowed to make. They received enough cattle to offer thanks for safe guidance to Zeus the Saviour, Heracles⁶, and the other gods, as they had vowed. They also held an athletic contest on the mountainside where they were camped. They chose Dracontius, a Spartan, to oversee the course and preside over the games. Dracontius had been banished from home as a boy after accidentally killing another boy with a blow from his dagger.

As soon as the sacrifices were over, they handed over the hides of the beasts to Dracontius, and bade him lead the way to his racecourse. He merely waved his hand and pointed to where they were standing, and said, "There, this ridge is just the place for running, anywhere, everywhere." "But how," it was asked, "will they manage to wrestle on the hard scrubby ground?" "Oh! worse knocks for those who are thrown," the president replied. There was a mile race for boys, the majority being captive lads; and for the long race more than sixty Cretans competed; there was wrestling, boxing, and the pankration⁷. Altogether it was a beautiful spectacle. There was a large number of entries, and the emulation, with their companions, male and female, standing as spectators, was immense. There was horse-racing also; the riders had to gallop down a steep incline to the sea, and then turn and come up again to the altar, and on the descent more than half rolled head over heels, and then back they came toiling up the tremendous steep, scarcely out of a walking pace. Loud were the shouts, the laughter, and the cheers.

As soon as the sacrifices were over, they gave the hides of the animals to Dracontius and told him to lead them to his racecourse. He simply waved his hand toward the place where they were standing and said, "There, this ridge is perfect for running, anywhere and everywhere." "But how will they wrestle on the hard, scrubby ground?" someone asked. "Oh! Those who are thrown will get worse knocks," the president replied. There was a mile race for boys, most of them captive lads. More than sixty Cretans competed in the long race. There was also wrestling, boxing, and the pankration⁷. It was a beautiful spectacle overall. Many entered the contests, and the competition was intense as their companions, both men and women, watched. There was horse racing too. The riders had to gallop down a steep slope to the sea, then turn and climb back up to the altar. More than half tumbled head over heels on the way down. Then they struggled back up the tremendous slope, barely moving faster than a walk. There were loud shouts, laughter, and cheers.