InJanuary330,AlexandertheGreatreachedthecapitalofthePersianEmpire,wherehefound4000Greeks,whohadbeenmadeprisonersbythePersians.Thehandsandfeetofsomeofthem,andthenosesandearsofothers,hadbeencutoff,andtheirfacesbrandedwithhotirons.Alexanderassuredthemthattheyshouldagainseetheirfamiliesandnativecountry.
"Alas!"answeredthey,"howwillitbepossibleforustoappearbeforeallGreeceinthisdreadfulcondition?Thebestwaytobearmiseryistoconcealit."Theyentreatedthattheymightbepermittedtoendtheirdaysamongthoseaccustomedtotheirmisfortunes.Alexanderthereforegavetoeachofthem3000drachmas,twocoupleofoxentoploughwith,andaquantityofcorntosow.Healsocommandedthegovernoroftheprovincetoprotectthem.
公元三三○年一月,亞歷山大大帝來到波斯帝國的首都,看見四千個遭波斯俘虜的希臘人,其中一些人被斬去了手腳,其餘的則被割去了耳鼻,面孔也用烙鐵燒了印記。亞歷山大告訴他們說,會讓他們重返故國再見家人。
眾俘虜回答說:「唉,我們這樣悽慘,在所有希臘人面前,怎能現身?忍受苦痛,最好的辦法,是把苦痛隱藏。」他們希望在慣見其慘狀的人之中,度過殘生,請亞歷山大答應這要求。亞歷山大於是給他們每個人三千德拉克馬銀幣,並各給四隻牛和一些穀粒,以供耕種。他還命令行省總督好好保護這四千人。