SOURCES
Arrian 3.7-15/240-73 = P158-172
(130 AD)
Curtius 4.10-16/73-91 (70 AD)
Diodorus 17.65-61/278-95 (50 BC)
Plutarch
G555b-557b (120 AD)
Justin
11.12.5
Ox Pap
1798
HISTORIOGRAPHIC
PROBLEMS
1. Only have Greek versions
2. Limited
knowledge of what really happened
Limited range of Vision
Confusion C 4.15.21/87
Dust C 4.15.32/88
3.
Propaganda Purposes of Contemporaries
Eagle C 4.15.26/87; P557a
4. Later
misunderstand or purposeful distortion of earlier sources
Number of Persians (see chart)
5.
Attempts to create great literature
Darius' pre-battle speech C 4.14.9-26/84-5
6.
Schematization of battle
Pre-Battle, conferences, speeches
Disposition of troops
Enemy nearly victorious = Crisis
Heroic act of king and/or gods
Victory
Pursuit, casualties, remarkable tales
7. Later
Legendary Growth
Alexander and the Jews
(Jos. Ant. 11.311ff.)
1.
Pre-Battle maneuvers
(A 158-164; C 4.9-11; D 17.53-56)
Darius on
Alexander
keeps out of river valley in foothills
Skirmish
with Persian Cavalry, first note on Persian army (159-60)
Armies
approach each other, Alex makes base camp (161)
Alex and
army advances within 7 miles of Persians (161)
Alex
advances to ridge, sees Persian army 4 miles away (161)
Council of
War, Parmenio urges careful reconnaissance (161-2)
Alex does
wide recon (162)
Second
council, battle speech of Alex (162) Q1
Question
of the possibility of Night Attack (162-3)
The
Persians stand at arms all night (163)
2. Persian Order of Battle
(A159-60, A164-165; C4.12; D none)
Arrian's First Account (159-60)
Sogdians: Bessus,
Bactrians: Bessus
Indians: Bessus
Sacae (Scythian
mounted archers): Mauaces
Arachotians: Barsaentes,
Indian hillmen: Barsaentes
Arians: Satibarzanes,
S Aria
Parthians
(cavalry): Phrataphernes
Hyrcanians
(cavalry): Phrataphernes
Tapurians
(cavalry): Phrataphernes
Medes: Atropates
(with
attached Cadusians, Albanians, Sacesinians)
Uxians & Susiani: Oxathres
Babylonians: Bupares
(with
attached Sitacenians & Carians)
Armenians: Orontes & Mitraustes
Cappadocians: Ariaces
Syrians: Mazaeus
1M inf, 40,000 Cav,
200 scythe-chariots, 15 elephants
3. Greek Order
of Battle
(A165-167; C4.13.26-32; D17.57)
Left Flank
= cavalry, missiles
Left = Parmenio
Center =
skirmishers, Macedonian Phalanx
Right =
Alexander, best cavalry
Right
Flank = cavalry, missiles
Rear =
secondary phalanx4. Comparative Numbers
PERSIANS
ARMY INFANTRY CAVALRY CHARIOTS ELEPHANTS
A3.8.6
(160) 1 million 40,000 200 15
C4.12.13 200,000 45,000
D17.53.3 800,000 200,000 200
P31.1 1 million
J11.12.5 400,000 100,000
CASUALTIES TOTAL INFANTRY CAVALRY
A3.15.6 300,000
C4.16.26 40,000
D17.61.3 90,000
P
J
Ox Pap1798 53,000
GREEKS
ARMY INFANTRY CAVALRY
A3.13
(167) 40,000 7000
C
D
P
J
Ox Pap1798
CASUALTIES TOTAL INFANTRY CAVALRY
A3.15.6 100
C4.16.26 300
D17.61.3 500
Mac
P
J
Ox Pap
1798 1200 1000 200
5. The
(A167-171; C4.13.1-25, C4.14-15;
D17.58-61)
Tactical
situation
Persians outflanked Greeks
Persians outnumbered Greek cavalry (40,000
to 7000)
Macedonian mobile disciplined
phalanx
Persian non-mobile infantry militia
1- Massagetae, Sarmatians cavalry
charge Greek left flank
kill some, move
on to plunder baggage
2- Chariot
charge scatters skirmishers in front of chariots
With heavy cavalry support
3- Persian
cavalry plunders baggage, some panic among Greeks
Alexander holds firm
4-
Chariots attack Phalanx A3.14/168
Greek spear wall stops horses
D17.58.2-5/285
Macedonians open gaps in ranks, horse
charge through C
Impetus is lost, infantry attack from
sides C86-7
5-
Alexander advances at angle to right A 3.13/167
6-
Bactrian cavalry attack Greek right
Some circle around to plunder baggage
Crisis in Greek line, almost lose
C14.15.19/87
7-
Alexander charges into gap between Persian left and center
Attacks straight for Darius A 3.14/169a
8-
Death of Darius' charioteer
Panic in Persian guard, flight
Flight of Darius C4.15.23-31/88
9. Persian
army begins to disintegrate
6.
Aftermath of the
(A171-2; C4.16)
7. Reasons for the Persian Defeat
1- Troops
exhausted from night stand A3.11/164
2-
Mercenary nature of the Army, hard to unite C4.13.4/80
3-
Persians sack Greek camp instead of surrounding
4- Greater
discipline of Greeks
Stand to fight chariot charge
A3.14/168
C4.15.3-5/85-6, C4.15.14-7
D17.58.2-5/285
5- Death
of Charioteer of Darius C4.15.28-9/88
6- Flight
of Darius
Three versions of Battle of Elites
C4.15.30-31/88
A3.14/169
D16.60/289-90
7- Persian
militia: decreases mobility, adds little strength
C4.12.9/78
C4.14.5/83
8- Genius
of Alexander