Macedonian war cry

[Uwe Bahr]

Hello to everybody,

I had just opportunity to see Oliver Stone's famous 'Alexander'-film; when the Macedonian / Greek phalanx advanced in the beginning of the Gaugamela battle, the soldiers shouted something that in my ears sounded like a rhythmic 'entiphalos' (surely I have not written it correct!).
Anybody knows the correct way of writing and the meaning? I read elsewhere (in Gisbert Haefs fine Novel 'Alexander') that the Macedonians used to shout 'Alalalai' when advancing to attack.

Greets - Uwe

[Dan Diffendale]

I believe it's supposed to be enyalios, which means "warlike." It was originally an epithet of Ares but later came to be regarded as a deity of his own. I'm not sure of a source for it...

[hoplite14gr]

I believe it's supposed to be enyalios, which means "warlike." It was originally an epithet of Ares but later came to be regarded as a deity of his own. I'm not sure of a source for it...

You are right it is Enyalios and means charging like a wild riverstream or carrying everything along his path!