XXXIV.  The result of this battle was the complete destruction of the Persian empire.  Alexander was at once saluted King of Asia, and after a splendid sacrifice to the gods, distributed the treasures and provinces of that country among his friends.  In the pride of his heart he now wrote to Greece, saying that all the despots must be driven out, and each city left independent with a constitutional government, and gave orders for the rebuilding of the city of Plataea, because the ancestors of the citizens of Plataea gave their territory to be consecrated to the gods on behalf of the liberties of Greece.  He also sent some part of the spoils to the citizens of Kroton, in Italy, to show his respect for the memory of Phayllus the athlete, who, during the Persian invasion, when all the other Greek cities in Italy deserted the cause of their countrymen in Greece, fitted out a ship of war at his own expense, and sailed to Salamis to take part in the battle there, and share in the dangers of the Greeks.  Such honour did Alexander pay to personal prowess, for he loved to reward and to commemorate noble deeds.

XXXV.  Alexander now marched into the country of Babylonia, which at once yielded to him.  As he drew near to Ekbatana he marvelled much at an opening in the earth, out of which poured fire, as if from a well.  Close by, the naphtha which was poured out formed a large lake.  This substance is like bitumen, and is so easy to set on fire, that without touching it with any flame, it will catch light from the rays which are sent forth from a fire, burning the air which is between both.  The natives, in order to show Alexander the qualities of naphtha, lightly sprinkled with it the street which led to his quarters, and when it became dark applied a match to one end of the track which had been sprinkled with it.  As soon as it was alight in one place, the fire ran all along, and as quick as thought the whole street was in flames.  At this time Alexander was in his bath, and was waited upon by Stephanus, a hard-favoured page-boy, who had, however, a fine voice.  Athenophanes, an Athenian, who always anointed and bathed King Alexander, now asked him if he would like to see the power of the naphtha tried upon Stephanus, saying that if it burned upon his body and did not go out, the force of it must indeed be marvellous.  The boy himself was eager to make the trial, and was anointed with it and set on fire.  He was at once enveloped in flame, and Alexander was terrified for him, fearing that he would be burned to death.  Indeed, had it not chanced that several attendants with pitchers of water in their hands had just arrived, all help would have been too late.  They poured water over the boy and extinguished the flames, but not before he had been badly burned, so that he was ill for some time after.  Some writers, who are eager to prove the truth of ancient legends, say that this naphtha was truly the deadly drug used by Medea, with which she anointed the crown and robe spoken of in the tragedies: