BBC - In the footsteps of Alexander (Issus & Tyre) 5

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great

In this award winning adventure Micheal Wood embarks on a 2000 mile journey in the foot steps of Alexander's triumphal march from Greece to India. Travelling with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims and Afghan guerillas, by jeep, train, boat, camel and on foot, he interweaves the momentous events of the past with present day reality and brings us new insights into a man whose myth and acheivements still resonate down the centuries

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The Battle of Issus (or more commonly The Battle at Issus) occurred in southern Anatolia, in November 333 BC. The invading troops led by the young Alexander of Macedonia, outnumbered more than 2:1, defeated the army personally led by Darius III of Achaemenid Persia in the second great battle for primacy in Asia. After Alexander's forces successfully forced a crossing of the Hellespont (the Dardanelles) and defeated the Persian satraps in a prior encounter, the Battle of the Granicus, Darius took personal charge of his army, gathered a large army from the depths of the empire, and maneuvered to cut the Greek line of supply, requiring Alexander to countermarch his forces, setting the stage for the battle near the mouth of the Pinarus River and south of the village of Issus.

Eventual accounts tell of bodies piled within the waters high enough to dam its flow and that the river ran red with blood. So while Alexander is known to have repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining contact with the beach to his sub-commander on the left (seaward) flank, it is safe to assume a lot of action that day along all the water course in its 2.5 km travel through the small narrow rough hilly coastal plain that prevented the Persians, with their greater numbers, from outflanking the attacking Greeks.

Initially, Alexander chose what was apparently unfavorable ground to an attack across (rough, briar choked, uphill) which was in fact a feint meant to pin and hold the Persian forces. This surprised Darius who mistakenly elected to hold position while Alexander then led the true attack personally on the right while instructing the Macedonian phalanx trained infantry, his main body, to make contact and just hold the main Persian army in check; thus in essence he advanced to take up a defensive posture. Meanwhile Alexander personally led the more elite Greek Companion Cavalry against the Persian left up against the hills, and cut up the enemy on the less encumbering terrain generating a quick rout.

After achieving a breakthrough, Alexander demonstrated he could do the difficult and held the cavalry successfully in check after it broke the Persian right. Alexander regrouped, then turned the body into the right flank of the Persian center, butchering Darius' body guard and under generals, provoking a panic and flight by that emperor himself, and causing a general rout. Any subsequent pursuit of Darius was delayed and generally impeded by the fleeing Persian troops and camp followers, although he managed to follow Darius' chariot until after dark some 24 to 25 km before giving up the chase.

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[georgeosgr]

FYROM ( A Nation based on lies, fake history, rich propaganda and unbelievable ignorance)

Macedonia is ONE and HELLENIC !!! see Britannica online Dorians.Spartans and Macedonians are Dorians originally from north Greece, masters of iron weapons easily dominated bronze age south Greece and the Aegean islands.

[SertoriusMagnus]

Absolutely a great documentary, as corresponds to Alexander the Great. Really is worthwhile. The most ambitious proyect over Alexander's history watched on TV. The opportunity to see the real locations (especially Tyre) & their current reminiscences of the Hellenistic culture is priceless, as well as the plethora of experts collaborating in the documentary. BBC still makes the best documentaries of everyone, no doubt.

[ellinokanados]

@boyish2000xx - the crucifying was mentioned by the Roman historian... crucifying was more a roman thing than a greek thing.. Alexander would have just struck the victim with his sword...

[ellinokanados]

In fact, if Alexnader truly was gay, why would Ploutarch hide it? By the time he wrote Alexanders biography, homosexuality had become quite normal and no longer taboo - therefore, if it were true, surely it would have been included. Instead, Ploutarch wrote about his multiple wives. In fact, Alexander even got offended when a gay boy servant was brought to him for 'his pleasure'. Obviously, there is more evidence proving he was NOT gay than there is to support that he was, but nobody cares...

[ellinokanados]

The thing I dont get is, why is everyone bent on making Alexander gay? Hephaestion may have been his "intimate companion", but that does not mean 'his lover'... it only means his best, closest friend since childhood. In fact, according to Ploutarch, Alexander had multiple wives, all of who he showed respect to their families by consummating after the wedding...with the exception of one... the widow of one of his generals which became his mistress throughout his campaign.

[DelijaCG]

@Deformedius svaka cast za priznanje,jedan od rijetkih koji ne zeli da zivi lazno...

[antonyvt]

who would win,Caesar or Alexander,(both in there prime).?,thumbs up for Caesar thumbs down for Alexander.

[fucklifemana]

does american know history