VII.] SIEGE OF TYRE. 127
wing, and were approaching the centre where he himself was
stationed, he took to flight, leaving no one in his place to issue
any orders to his soldiers. From that time forward the Persian
army was at the mercy of its adversaries.
The next event of importance in the campaign was the siege
of Tyre. Alexander, with that circumspection which was not less
characteristic of him than his promptitude in action, though his
enemy was hopelessly defeated and the way to his capital lay
open, determined to secure the countries in his rear before
advancing into the heart of Asia. With this view he abstained
from pursuing Darius, and turned southwards into Syria, and
received the submission of most of the cities both of that country
and of the coastland of Phoenicia. But the insular
position of Tyre, and the recollection of the famous
sieges which she had undergone at the hands of the
Assyrians under Shalmanezer and the Babylonians under Nebu-
chadnezzar, disposed her citizens for resistance; and this did not
at first appear a hopeless attempt on their part, because Alexander
had no fleet at his command. He was not, however, to be foiled
in this manner, for he proceeded at once to construct a mole
from the mainland to the nearest part of the island-city, and,
notwithstanding the determined opposition of the inhabitants, in
the course of seven months Tyre was joined to the continent, as it
has continued to be down to the present day. But the circum-
stance which assured Alexander's final success was his obtaining
possession of the fleets of the Phoenician and Cypriote cities, for
by means of these he was able to assail the place from various
sides. It was by the help of ships that the first breach was made
in the walls on the southern side facing Egypt, and from this
point Alexander in person stormed the city, which was taken
in spite of a desperate defence. After the capture of Tyre the
conqueror met with no further opposition except at Gaza, which
place resisted him for three months. He then
marched by way of Pelusium to Memphis, and
received a ready welcome from the native popula-
tion of that city, who had never been content with the Persian
rule. In the Egyptian capital he reposed for some time, and then
descended the westernmost branch of the Nile to Canopus, where