Xerxes Five Million Men

[hoplite14gr]

Felix reply is well grounded but Napoleon moved half a million and the system collpased. The problem of human and animal waste is considered dealt in in the 19th century but: Sewage system did exist in the bronze age cities. That means that people were aware of this problem. I want to say that the logistical propblem is imence but ancient people did take steps to deal with it.
A similar worst case effect I think was Xerxes expedition. He tried to move more men than he should at that time. Most of these people might not be combatants but slaves doing the dirty work but on the march they must made quite an impression!
I repeat that I don't buy the milions figure but an army the size of Grande Armee might have been possible for Xerxes. I believe that Artavano's objections and protests in Herodotos history are not ther just to make a nice story. Other ancient sources leave hinds about mutinies and desertions.
Kind regards