Lot Essay
The family of Darius before Alexander (Plutarch 33:21; Valerius Maximus 4:7). When Darius fled, Alexander captured his mother, two daughters and wife but treated them kindly, the moral of this scene is similar to the Continence of Scipio. It might take place at Alexander's tent on the battlefield. The mother, Sisygambis, kneels before the conqueror who offers his hand to help her rise. Darius' wife, Stateira and her daughters are in the foreground amongst servants, soldiers and onlookers. Diodorus Siculus (17:37) and others tell that Sisygambis by mistake prostrated herself to before Alexander's friend Haephestion and Alexander put her at her ease courteously. see illustration
