07-13-2012, 06:14 PM
Quote:And that Persian and Indian heavy cavalry armed with long spears even managed to break through the line of Macedonian phalangites (pezhetairoi) at the point of contact of taxis...
Ah yes, the famous "break in the line". I have some very definite thoughts on this. The court tradition (that is, Arrian's transmission) is clear (you'll excuse me for not transcribing the far better Landmark translation):
Quote:When the armies drew near each other, Darius and the men around him were observed: the apple-bearing Persians, the Indians, the Albanians, the Carians who had been forcibly transported into Central Asia, the Mardian archers ranged opposite Alexander himself and the royal squadron of cavalry.
So Arrian 3.13.1. Alexander is clearly described as opposite the Persian centre.
Quote:For a time Alexander led his men in column but, when the cavalry, charging the Persians who were trying to surround the Macedonians' right wing....
Arrian 3.14.2 (Landmark translation). And, so, even given the "chariot charge" Alexander was leading the Macedonians in column. Two things: Alexander began his rightward advance opposite the Persian centre. Secondly he wound up opposite the Persian left wing chariots and he got there advancing in column.
This, if correct, has some implications for the entire battle.
Paralus|Michael Park
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
