From Patala to Pura- the march

[dean]

Hello,
Some of the decisions that Alexander took seem strange and incomprehensible. One such decision is to go through the Gedrosian desert.
I have read several different reasons by differing authors- for example, signori Manfredi- his simple explanation- that Kalanos, the mystic in his infinite wisdom told him that the hardest way was the best then another German author who says that it was meant to be a punishment to his men for forcing a return,
In my copy of Plutarch it states that the march was a disaster, costly in human lives and all the sources mention it.I read too that Alexander, after his reputation was damaged after the forced return wanted to do a superhuman feat.He knew that Cyrus had had chronic problems there before him.
So what do you reckon?
Dean

[susan]

DeanAn immediate reaction - Manfredi is a novelist, writing for effect and so what he says should not be read as historically true. I don't think Alexander based important strategic actions on advice from Indian philosophers.Alexander was bold and innovative in his thinking - and such moves are always judged harshly if they go wrong. If the march across the desert had been a great success he would have been praised for taking such a bold move; as it was, he and his men came from the Mediterranean which is relatively tide-free and calm; they were now in a place where the weather and sea patterns were different, and maybe they didn't really realise how different they were until they got going. Plus - who wrote a lot of the histories - Nearchus , who led the fleet along the coast.
He was heavily implicated - he wasn't going to write an account blaming himself. I think it was a bold gamble that didn't come off, for a variety of reasons - the weather was diiferent from what they expected - the local support was different - maybe their equipment was wrong. You've only got to look at the news today to find the effect of weather - sandstorms - and local support on military moves, and how difficult it is to predict.Susan

[marcus]

Wasn't there a story/legend/whatever that Semiramis had come to grief in the Gedrosian desert? Perhaps even that Cyrus had, as well?In the same way that Alexander wanted to defeat the Scythians because the Persians had failed, wanted to take the Aornus Rock because Herakles had failed etc. he wanted to conquer the Gedrosian desert in order to surpass what Semiramis and/or Cyrus had done.Even though the march was somewhat disastrous, the fact that he emerged from the desert might be construed as, to some extent, achieving his goal...All the bestMarcus

[agesilaos]

Also, despite Engels' 'Logistics of the Macedonian Army' the fleet would need the support of the army in passing a hostile coast. It is clear that Alexander marched along the coast intending to leave depots and dig wells for the fleet. Poor harvests, being forced inland by the terrain and I think a late monsoon scuppered his plans.This is not to say that propaganda considerations were unimportant, at the time he was in the grip of megalomania.

[ruthaki]

I agree with Agesilaon (sorry if I spelled this wrong!) And wasn't there some problem with the guides running off? Losing their way? Flash-floods and other disasters that they could not have anticipated because they were not familiar with the terrain? A lot of bad things can happen to anyone who is traversing a desert. They were fortunate to have come out of it alive.

[dean]

Hello,
Thanks Ruth for your opinion.
You say that they were lucky to come out alive.
Yes you are right and Alexander was luckier than any of them.
Best wishes,Dean.
By the way, have you any news about the novel as yet?