05-13-2008, 10:42 PM
Marathon was, according to Herodotus, "a long battle" - but it can not have been very long, because the soldiers managed to return to Athens before sunset.
Issus can not have lasted more than half an hour, plus a pursuit of about an hour. This is my personal calculation, derived from the fact that (a) Alexander had to approach from the Pillar of Jonah and (b) it was 5 or 6 November. He can not have reached his position until 16.30 and dawn was at 17.45.
Second Cremona, on the other hand, took an afternoon and a night, and was decided at sunset.
Issus can not have lasted more than half an hour, plus a pursuit of about an hour. This is my personal calculation, derived from the fact that (a) Alexander had to approach from the Pillar of Jonah and (b) it was 5 or 6 November. He can not have reached his position until 16.30 and dawn was at 17.45.
Second Cremona, on the other hand, took an afternoon and a night, and was decided at sunset.
