Hello there, first post, here it goes exactly how did the battle of the Granicus unfold. Was there an instant charge against the Persians on the far bank.
Or was Parmenio's advice taken.
Or was there a movement upstream to a more appropriate crossing point(which is more and more favoured).
And how exactly did the Greek Mercenaries play a part before their slaughter.Was Alexander Rebuffed (for a short time) at the first hurdle. Or was it all blood and guts glory ( as written by the hand of Calisthenes, guided by Alexander no doubt).A second point, on Menmom, i think he was competent at times and no more.He could not best Parmenio in Asia Minor in over a year of to and fro skirmishing, let alone Alewxander. His best advice before Granicus was to retreat and burn the land, when Alexander planned to go down the coast for the ports anyway.
granicus
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Re: granicus
"Was there an instant charge against the Persians on the far bank. Or was Parmenio's advice taken. Or was there a movement upstream to a more appropriate crossing point(which is more and more favoured)."Lane Fox and Bosworth accept the reading of Diodorus (Parmenio's advice was taken). I visited the site with a geologist; we walked along this little river for a distance of about ten kilometers. Almost everywhere, it is between 2-4 meters deeper than the plain. My geologist found no indications for a change of the environment, so I think that back then, the river was also 2-4 meters deeper than the plain.My pictures (at http://www.livius.org/a/turkey/granicus/granicus.html ) are not excellent, but I guess they give an impression of the Granicus. I found it hard to climb out of this little canyon and I think that it is even more difficult to do so when seated on horseback. Therefore, I agree with Lane Fox and Bosworth.Jona
Re: granicus
Hello Craig,
In my opinion, no one can possibly know for certain just what happened at the Granicus. The events are much too far in the past, and not all the "original" sources agree on what happened. Personally, I feel that any of the postulated scenarios could have occurred, but feel that Diodorus Siculus' version is somewhat more likely.
Diodorus was writing history, while authors such as Arrian and Plutarch were writing about Alexander. In that sense, I believe that Diodorus may have been more dispassionate in his writing , having a sort of "Just the facts maam" approach, while others would seek to either glorify or denigrate Alexander. I think that that is basic human nature for far too many people. And incidentally, that very thing has occurred with books on not just Alexander, but Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and a plethora of others.
Hail and
In my opinion, no one can possibly know for certain just what happened at the Granicus. The events are much too far in the past, and not all the "original" sources agree on what happened. Personally, I feel that any of the postulated scenarios could have occurred, but feel that Diodorus Siculus' version is somewhat more likely.
Diodorus was writing history, while authors such as Arrian and Plutarch were writing about Alexander. In that sense, I believe that Diodorus may have been more dispassionate in his writing , having a sort of "Just the facts maam" approach, while others would seek to either glorify or denigrate Alexander. I think that that is basic human nature for far too many people. And incidentally, that very thing has occurred with books on not just Alexander, but Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and a plethora of others.
Hail and