The reason why he did NOT use a pontoon bridge (as the Persians used in their invasion of Greece decades earlier) was because a pontoon bridge is not an ideal method in which to launch an invasion by such massed forces of infantry AND with a hostile force raining down flaming missile weapons from above. It would not be stable with such a concentration of men in full battle array either. OTOH, Xerxes' use of it in Greece, was to transport men and equipment at a point which was not contested.
@SadamSkywalker FALSE. The Persians had built TWO pontoon bridges acroos the sea at the Bosporous , when they invaded Greece. This was before Alexander as well. It was , if I am not mistaken, the earliest recorded example in history of pontoon bridge use and till this day it may have been the longest. The main point being, that it CAN and WAS used at sea. It was a major engineering accomplishment in the ancient world , which included new rope technology as well.
@Dracoti You can build a ponton bridge over a river, but not across the sea. The waves and the current would disintegrate the bridge into little floats that have no connection and cannot be steered.
The reason why he did NOT use a pontoon bridge (as the Persians used in their invasion of Greece decades earlier) was because a pontoon bridge is not an ideal method in which to launch an invasion by such massed forces of infantry AND with a hostile force raining down flaming missile weapons from above. It would not be stable with such a concentration of men in full battle array either. OTOH, Xerxes' use of it in Greece, was to transport men and equipment at a point which was not contested.
MrSkaramanga 3 months ago
@SadamSkywalker FALSE. The Persians had built TWO pontoon bridges acroos the sea at the Bosporous , when they invaded Greece. This was before Alexander as well. It was , if I am not mistaken, the earliest recorded example in history of pontoon bridge use and till this day it may have been the longest. The main point being, that it CAN and WAS used at sea. It was a major engineering accomplishment in the ancient world , which included new rope technology as well.
MrSkaramanga 3 months ago
@Dracoti You can build a ponton bridge over a river, but not across the sea. The waves and the current would disintegrate the bridge into little floats that have no connection and cannot be steered.
SadamSkywalker 8 months ago
Why did Alexander not build a pontoon bridge? surely that would have been better ..
Dracoti 8 months ago
Peter WODWAAAAAAAAAARD !
XDD
GermanSwordMaster 1 year ago
He´s wearing his shorts so high that you can see the balls hanging around in front of the bow :D
GaiusMaximusJulius 1 year ago
Philip II was a descendant of the Heraclid dynasty
Phalanxpursos 2 years ago