Abulites, a victim of ATG

[jan]

Can anyone tell me who is Abulites, a man who was sentenced to being kicked and bitten to death by a horse or horses? What did he do to deserve that kind of abuse? And I may have misspelled his name. I read this in a litany of abuses that Alexander had done and I would like it if someone would clarify this for me. Thanks.

[agesilaos]

Abulites was satrap of Susiana and on surrendering Susa was allowed to remain in office. He was executed for mal administration when Alexander returned from India, so Arrian VII 4 i. Plutarch says Alx 68, that Alexander killed his son Oxathres by running him through with a sarissa while Abulites was merely imprisoned, he retails a detail that after the Gedrosian march Abulites was ordered to send provisions but brought coin instead. Alexander cast the coin before his horses and when they did not eat it asked him what use his provisions were. The punishment you mention is clearly garbled from this anecdote and is not in the sources.Most modern authors seize upon it to say that his crime was failing to provide provisions but he falls alongside many Persian rebels and so may have been involved in their schemes. the three thousand talents he is said to have brought represents 3/5ths of the treasure of Susa and cannot be right so maybe he was funding the rising, such a sum would pay Alexander's men for three years!

[jan]

Thank you, Karl, I appreciate this info very much. It is definitely different from the phrase included in a litany of Alexander atrocities. Thanks for clearing it up. The author I read is Arthur Weigall.