Chapter 9
Prompt: Stranger

Dear Master Aristotle,

After the long battle of Tyre, and the emotional siege of Gaza, we arrived in Pelusium; the last city that stood between Alexander and Egypt, and where a Persian satrap Mazaces ruled. It was such a heavily fortified coastal town that it seemed it would take a long battle to conquer if they had decided to put up a fight.

Parmenion suggested that we should paint the goddess Bastet on our shields just like the great king Cambyses did when he fought against Psametik three hundred years ago. But as you have guessed, Alexander did not agree with this. He values strategy and war tactics, but he does not wish to steal a victory. It is not Alexander's way of winning.

Fortunately, Mazaces decided to submit to Alexander without a fight. He even offered eight hundred talents as a token of his support. Alexander left Cleomenes in charge along with Mazaces, and we headed out to Memphis, the capital city of Egypt. As Alexander turned south with the main army, we with the fleet went further west to sail up the Nile River.

The river was wide with the gentle current, and the autumn breeze cooled us down, but was not too harsh. The smiles of the people of Egypt told us that we were welcome here. It was a nice change and relaxing after the constant hard battles. One side of the bank was fertile land with lush green, and the other side was endless camel dunes far and wide beyond the bank. I felt as if we had slipped into another world.

When I saw the great Pyramids and obelisks off in the distance, the reality sank in that I had finally come to Egypt. The land where you said that it changes in its turn and in time becomes thriving and that you have called as the cradle of mathematics. You are indeed correct; those Pyramids and obelisks are the sum of the principle of mathematics.

Since we had a couple of days of waiting until Alexander joined us, I decided to take this opportunity to visit the Pyramid. I did not take anybody but a local guide and several Egyptian guards. I asked Nearchus if he would like to come with me, but he looked at me as if I had grown a second head and told me that he would rather like to spend a day in the luxurious city than in the desert sands.

I did not blame him, but I did not regret my decision either. We talked about those magnificent pyramids in Mieza, and how I miss those days, but seeing it right in front of my eyes was something else. First of all, they were massive. It is a wonder how they transported those heavy stones and stuck them on top of each other to such a height. And secondly, they were precise both in measurement and its orientations.

Looking at this wondrous structure, all of a sudden, I felt that I truly understood what you meant by the 'golden mean'. It is where two extremes sublime to meet together, just like all lines of the Pyramid meet at the top, isn't it? Therefore, the 'golden mean' is not simply to meet at the half way at the same level, but rather more at the higher level.

Master Aristotle, I really would love to visit the Pyramid again sometime with you after our expedition is over. Wouldn't it be nice to discuss about the ancient wonders all night under the shining stars, and watching the rising sun gradually light up this magnificent wisdom from the past? We might discover some of the secrets of Egypt's wisdom together.

When Alexander arrived in Memphis, Egyptians welcomed him just like they did to us. They called him as "Horus, the strong ruler, he who seizes the lands of the foreigners, beloved of Amun and the chosen one of Ra - meryamun setepenra Aleksandros". Alexander's face lit up with joy and pride, and for the next two months we stayed there, he looked happier than ever.

Next year in late January, we went further west along the coast. Alexander was very fond of this ancient land, and he had decided to build his city. He looked for the mystic city of Homer. And when we came to a coastal town that seemed to be a small fishing village called Ra-Kedet, we knew that we had found the perfect place.

Now there is an island in the surging sea in front of Egypt, and men call it Pharos, distant as far as a hollow ship runs in a whole day when the shrill wind blows fair behind her. Therein is a harbor with good anchorage, whence men launch the shapely ships into the sea, when they have drawn supplies of black water. *1

The place was exactly as Homer explained. The narrow long peninsulas cradled and protected the calm bay. The water was as clear and as blue as the Aegean Sea. It was indeed the suitable city to have Alexander's name, beautiful and powerful.

What we did not expect from this small town was that they had a library, and it was not just a small one, but carried one of the most extensive collections of papyrus scrolls. Alexander was as impressed as the rest of us, but it tickled his competitive side as well. He claimed that he would build the largest and most significant library here by incorporating the existing one.

From there, Alexander left the main army with Parmenion, and took only companions and friends along with local guides to visit Siwa. You would not believe what happened on the way. First, a sudden rainstorm, which is very rare in the desert, saved us when we were completely out of water only three days into the dunes.

And then, we were hit by a fierce sand storm; just like the one that swallowed fifty thousand soldiers of Cambyses might have been. The wind was so strong that it changed the landscapes completely and had erased all the landmarks, making the local guides get lost.

And this time, two ravens that appeared from the middle of nowhere saved us. Alexander told us to follow them since they were messengers from the gods. He also told us that the reason why we did not die in the desert like the army of Cambyses was because we did not insult the Egyptian gods as Parmenion suggested.

Everybody laughed taking it as a light joke, except Philotas. His bitter expression hit me in the eyes. Master Aristotle, I am worried to see the gap of the difference in opinions between Alexander and Parmenion and his son that seems to be deepening by the day.

It was such a magical moment when we finally arrived at Siwa. Lush green and sparkling water appeared in the middle of the endless dunes. It floated like an island in the ocean of sand. The people of this secluded sanctuary were equally amazed, as we were to see foreign soldiers appear from the sand. It was more so when they found that it was their new pharaoh who made a visit.

Since Alexander did not want to waste any time, we quickly washed ourselves at the pool of the oasis, and went up to the temple of Amun to see the Oracle. The priest came out running, and greeted Alexander calling him as 'son of god', which pleased him a lot. He was then invited to the inner chamber to meet with the Oracle.

When he finally came out, I knew exactly what prophecy he had received, although all he said was that he had been given the answer his heart desired. I had not felt this distant from Alexander before. Even at the massacre of Tyre that seemed overkill and unnecessary, I understood that Alexander needed it as a process of catharsis after the long and hard battle he fought. I also accepted when he tied a rope at Batis' ankles and dragged him by a chariot around the city of Gaza, knowing that he needed to prove to himself that he was the reborn Achilles.

But, this was different. Alexander was now a god; at least that was what he believed. And if the only difference between a god and a human was to make impossible possible, then Alexander had already done that. Seeing Alexander's almost ecstatic expression, my heart was beating painfully fast with the fear of losing him.

"Friendship still lasts in spite of continual losses; but where there is a great gulf, as between God and man, friendship becomes impossible."

I wondered if this was the end of our friendship. However, when he looked at me with a nod, as he always had done whenever he wanted an assurance from me, I let out a sigh of relief.

I might have to challenge against this quote of yours. As he had been Alexander before being a prince or king for me, he still is just Alexander before being a god. Besides, isn't it true that even a god needs somebody who loves and understands him?

Greetings from the most ancient world,
Your Humble Student,

Hephaistion

*1: Odyssey IV.354-355