Реферат: Alexander

Hellenes”. 3

Alexander’s Army also had very important back-up units. These units carried a

siege train consisting of mobile siege towers, stone-throwing catapults, and javelin

throwers. Also comprised in the back-up units were engineers, bridge-builders, sappers,

and surveyors. To further insure a well developed army there needed to be non-combatant

personnel as well. They comprised of doctors, scientists, botanists, astronomers,

philosophers, seers, and an official historian record all of the conquests. With this unified

and flawless army Alexander would be able to conquer many lands with great speed and

diligence.

In the same aspect that most of our armies of today say prayers for a victory in

battle so was Alexander’s belief that a homage must be paid to a god for good luck. In the

beginning of his journey, Alexander rode up to the city of Troy where he entered the

archaic temple of the goddess Athena. Here he made a promise that if successful, he

would return to little Ilion and build a gigantic temple to Trojan Athene in gratitude for

her help. This visit would give him the additional benefit of the spirits of the Ancients in

his later conquests of Asia.4

Alexander and his army swiftly marched the plains along the Sea of Marmara. At

the same time Darius, the King of Persia, was busily setting traps in plans to stop the

pursuit of Alexander’s army. Darius had a plan to stop them, he would station several

thousand Greek mercenaries near the Dardanelles. The Persian army had vast resources

and great gold reserves to hire army after army to defeat Alexander’s pursuit. The leader

of the Greek mercenaries, Memnon of Rhodes, decided to burn the countryside to cut off

Alexander’s supplies. The Persian leaders decided against this idea and decided to fight

instead.

At dusk, Alexander approached the river in battle formation. On the opposite side

were the Persians lining the bank ten thousand strong. The Persian plan was just to hold

Alexander off and prevent him from crossing the river. Alexander’s senior general

Parmenio counseled Alexander that they should hold off until the time was right.

Alexander refused and within minutes the blaring trumpets roared as they marched on