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I am interestedin information regarding textiles used by Alexander during his life time. For example, he first saw silk when he captured Darius'tent after Issus. Silk was part of the tribute paid him from the treasury at Babylon. Can anyone provide more information or recommend books on the subject?

Zoe,I can't provide answers to your questions, unfortunately, but I must congratulate you on what must be one of the most interesting and eclectic questions ever posed on this forum (since I've been a member, at least).But you can bet your bottom dollar that someone will be able to point you in the right direction!All the bestMarcus

From memory, some textiles are:1. Wool - Macedonians were hillmen with large flocks, originally. They would have had wool.2. Linen - Alexander wore a padded linen corslet at one of his battles.3. cotton in India - the Macedonians complained that the local material rotted and was not as durable as the liene they were used to. I think it was cotton, I will have to look up later today. 4. Silk - as you already mention.5. Felt ? some of the textiles in the Scythian royal tombs are made of felt, I think.6. Tapestries, embroideries.Alexander's mothers and sisters embroidered his clothes themselves - he gave a gift of embroidery wools to the persian royal ladies and they were deeply offended as it was a slave's task there.
You can probably find more details in Arrian Indica, which is online ( I'll look for references later)Susan

Thanks to Susan and Marcus for their replies.This is my first adventure into an on-line forum so I am not sure of all the protocols. I am writing a long narrative poem about Alexander's life framed by the textiles he comes in contact with during his journey. By studying the history of textiles and related historical information I have been able to put some very interesting things together.1. Wool--spinning and weaving were common accomplishments for women of all classes in Greece and Macedonia at the time of Alexander. It is possible that Olympias herself wove the material for his clothing. In all probability this was the material that clothed his army until it wore out.Woolen thread could be put into mountain torents and tumbled to a soft and fine finish. It made thin, strong cloth. This technique was in use in Greece and Macedon at time of Alexander.Embroidery was introduced into Greece by the Phoenicians and was more commonly used closer to the coast and by the upper classes.2.Linen-Alexander probably put off his wool and wore linen while in Egypt. Egyptian religious practice forbade the use of any and all animal fibers in temple ceremonies. Priests wore only fine white linen for religious ceremonies to avoid ritual polution. As pharaoh, Alexander was also priest and had to avoid the wool taboo. Pleats were made in the linen by dipping it a wheat starch and pleating it on boards set in the sun to dry. The pleats were held in place by well-washed, small,light colored stones.Guaze takes its name from Gaza which was famous for the fineness of its linen and possibly cotton weaves.3. Silk--Parthians were the main traders for silk. The only market where the Chinese met with them was at Bactria. "Mute and motionless as watch towers along the caravan highway, Chinese silk merchants or Sericans faced Persian traders with bales of silk between. (Legatt, Story of Silk)" Bargining was accomplished by signs as the Chinese believed that their silence helped guard the secret of silk.Alexander first saw silk in volume in the royal treasure houses in Babylon where some of the robe had been stored for 200 years. 4. Cotton-used to replace uniforms in Pakistan/India. Accurate that material was of poor quality. Aristotle thought it grew on wool bearing trees.Alexander's army's use of cotton important to later Hellenistic trade as it was because of Indian cotton that Greeks first learned how to used black, yellow a