Ancient army numbers

[Macedon]

The whole purpose of this thread should be to discuss what was possible not why it was desirable to field huge armies.

I very much agree. How many of the many accounts of huge armies are real is pretty much open to debate. That ALL accounts are wrong is to me almost as improbable as a claim that ALL are right. Maybe the Persians came to Greece with a mil and the Carthaginians landed on Sicily with only 50,000. Maybe Alexander faced at Issus only 50,000 and at Gaugamela indeed 1,000,000. There are many for and against arguments in each and every case and unfortunately without some certified video footage no one will ever make a case that will persuade everybody.