Alexander against Thebes
HEN he came to
Thebes, to show how willing he was to accept of their repentance for what was
past, he only demanded of them Phoenix and Prothytes, the authors of the
rebellion, and proclaimed a general pardon to those who would come over to
him. But when the Thebans merely retorted by demanding Philotas and Antipater
to be delivered into their hands, and by a proclamation on their part, invited
all who would assert the liberty of Greece to come over to them, he presently
applied himself to make them feel the last extremities of war. The Thebans
indeed defended themselves with a zeal and courage beyond their strength,
being much outnumbered by their enemies. But when the Macedonian garrison
sallied out upon them from the citadel, they were so hemmed in on all sides,
that the greater part of them fell in the battle; the city itself being taken
by storm, was sacked and razed, Alexander's hope being that so severe an
example might terrify the rest of Greece into obedience, and also in order to
gratify the hostility of his confederates, the Phocians and Plataeans. So
that, except the priests, and some few who had heretofore been the friends and
connections of the Macedonians, the family of the poet Pindar, and those who
were known to have opposed the public vote for the war, all the rest, to the
number of thirty thousand, were publicly sold for slaves; and it is computed
that upwards of six thousand were put to the sword. Among the other calamities
that befell the city, it happened that some Thracian soldiers having broken
into the house of a matron of high character and repute, named Timoclea, their
captain, after he had used violence with her, to satisfy his avarice as well
as lust, asked her, if she knew of any money concealed; to which she readily
answered she did, and bade him follow her into a garden, where she showed him
a well, into which, she told him, upon the taking of the city she had thrown
what she had of most value. The greedy Thracian presently stooping down to
view the place where he thought the treasure lay, she came behind him, and
pushed him into the well, and then flung great stones in upon him, till she
had killed him. After which, when the soldiers led her away bound to
Alexander, her very mien and gait showed her to be a woman of dignity, and of
a mind no less elevated, not betraying the least sign of fear or astonishment.
And when the king asked her who she was, "I am," said she, "the sister of
Theagenes, who fought the battle of Chaeronea with your father Philip, and
fell there in command for the liberty of Greece." Alexander was so surprised,
both at what she had done, and what she said, that he could not choose but
give her and her children their freedom to go whither they pleased.
Next chapter:
Favoring the Athenians 
Plutarch: ALEXANDER
