Reference to sources and Text

[iskander_32]

Excuse me for my ignorance comrades,But I am not so well read on the sourses as most of you,,, Do any of the texts and sourses say or indicate that ALexander was infact defeated by Porus to the extent he had to grovel for terms.I have just read thge posts indicating Alexander was actually defeated and did a deal with Porus to help Porus in his endevours to maintain power in that region.My problem with this arguement is this, If Alexanders army was defeated and demoralised to the point of mutiny against there king who we know they adored and loved, Then why woulkd the same soldiers undertake to continue to fight for Porus cause in his aim to consolidate his own power.Im sorry but it makes no sence, If I were a soldier in Alexanders army and were fed up and demoralised under what Alexander was asking me and as we were mutinying anyway then There is no way we would carry on for a porus cause.Does this make sence as to thoroughly bin the argument that Alexander lost to Porus yet remained to fight for Porus.Regards
Kenny.I think before people should post such rediculous opinions then they should adhere to commo sense as well.

[Halil]

Hello KennyYou are right, of course. Common sense should be used when interpreting anything. Also it's good to remember that both Alexander and Porus would have had different views of what they were both about, more different perhaps than any modern interpreter can possibly give them.Warfare seems to have been a way of life to both of them. Porus wanted to vanquish his long-time enemies (who were fellow Indians). One might ask if he had vanquished Alexander's army (and therefore had a superior army to Alexander's and better tactical skills) why did he ask help from a demoralized and beaten army who had not been able to defeat him? You're right, it doesn't make sense.However, in this war-torn world, we need to make bridges of peace, not to enflame nationalist hatred, particularly between East and West. We need to emphasise what was good about Alexander. In his meeting with Porus, I like to see the chivalrous side of both men - the respect that they felt, having done battle with one another, they saw and felt a common bond of courageous warrior spirit. In short, they seem to have liked one another. We may not know why Porus was fighting enemies on his native soil, but we do know that Porus and Alexander united against them. That much seems to be history, the rest is speculation.Cheers
Halil