The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paralus]

From this, it is possible to see that what Polybius reports Callisthenes as saying is almost certainly correct, contrary to Polybius' ridicule. Alexander's Phalanx began it's deployment in the usual formation, namely 'normal'/'open' order, initially on a fairly narrow front of 'double' phalanx 32 deep. As they approach the Persians, they deploy into the usual 16 deep formation. Finally, "in the battle" they move into 'close order' formation 8 deep, for Polybius is surely correct that Callisthenes could not mean that they were 8 deep in 'open' order, for that would have involved doubling his total front to an unbelievable 8,000 yds - over 4.5 miles, which would have taken over half an hour to carry out, with the enemy close at hand.

Firstly it needs to be stated that the reason Alexander extended and lessened the depth of his phalanx is, indeed, due to his requirement to fill the field. Secondly, Polybios' material – capriciously edited though it is – preserves salutary details of Kallisthenes original account (propaganda and all). These details – aside from a few minor differences – tallies with Ptolemy / Arrian – even unto the “fissures filled with Persian dead” over which the Macedonians pursued the Persians. It is, to me, reasonably plain that Ptolemy has followed Kallisthenes in this description.

Polybios, in his righteous outrage at what he perceives as foolish historians, makes several errors and these you have followed. Whilst you suggest that his criticism of Kallisthenes can, for these puroses, be ignored it is, unfortunately, the root of his error.

To begin with Polybios’ concern is how one fits the numbers of men from each army into the field width given. His first credulous error is believing the numbers – in the order of 600,000 – for the Persian array. This is plain propaganda and it says something about Polybios’ critical nature that he did not recognise it. His next manifest error is to total, in holier than thou fashion, the numbers of the Macedonians even accounting for those on “other special duties”. These he gives as 42,000. This then becomes Polybios’ Macedonian line of battle which must be fit into the field of Issos. This is utter bunkum.

There are three accounts of this battle: Arrian, Curtius and Diodorus. Diodorus is formulaic and cursory. Curtius, derived from the same “vulgate” tradition is full and Arrian’s is quite full as well. Polybios provides Kallisthenes’ set up to the battle narrative; as I noted it is, to all intents, Arrian / Ptolemy’s. Curtius and Arrian are clear on the make up of the Macedonian battle line:

First, upon the right wing near the mountain he placed his infantry guard and the shield-bearers, under the command of Nicanor, son of Parmenio; next to these the regiment of Coenus, and close to them that of Perdiccas. These troops were posted as far as the middle – the position of the heavy infantry. On the left wing first stood the regiment of Amyntas, then that of Ptolemy, and close to this that of Meleager. The infantry on the left had been placed under the command of Craterus; but Parmenio held the chief direction of the whole left wing (Arrian 2.8.2)

Alexander set his phalanx - the strongest element in the Macedonian army - at the front. Parmenion's son, Nicanor, held the right wing and next to him stood Coenus, Perdiccas, Meleager, Ptolomaeus and Amyntas, all leading their respective units. On the left wing, which reached as far as the sea, were Craterus and Parmenion, but Craterus had been instructed to take orders from Parmenion. The cavalry was deployed on both wings, the Macedonians reinforced by the Thessalians to the right, the Peloponnesians on the left (Curtius 3.9.7-8)

The Macedonian battle line – as at Granicus and at Gaugamela – was made up of the national levy of Macedon; this was the force, plus cavalry and its attendant light armed (Agrianes, archers and Thracians) that then filled the available space on the field.

Alexander, the night prior, had occupied the southern pass onto the field. Even after a forced march he ordered his army to rest where they were armed for battle. This will be because he saw the enemy occupied the plain below and he did not wish to be caught “naked” so to speak. The next day he moves – in column – from the pass into the plain. When the plain – a triangle widening as he progressed – opened enough he formed from column into battle order 32 deep. This with the enemy ahead and in occupation of the plain with his cavalry deployed across the river. The following advance – with its constant stops to dress the line – was carried out “closed up for action” as the enemy is at hand. It would be foolish for it to be otherwise.

So we approach the Pinarus, finally, eight deep and occupying some 1,371 metres of a field some 2,590 metres wide. This, then, leaves room for the cavalry and any light armed that were not deployed before the phalanx.

Plainly there were not 42,000 foot in the battle line. Polybios in his fevered and sanctimonious assault on Kallisthenes has dropped the sarisa.