ABSTRACT
Granicus had been fought against hastily levied local troops, who underestimated the Macedonian war machine. The Persian army set out from Babylon in the summer of 331, probably about the same time as Alexander left Tyre. It headed north through Mesopotamia, crossing the Tigris five days later, and then continued through Assyria to Arbela and finally encamped close to the village of Gaugamela. Meanwhile on the right wing of the Macedonian line the battle revolved around cavalry clashes. Bessus and his contingent had returned, and the fighting was fierce. Then the break that Alexander wanted was happened. A Greek mercenary infantryman was given two months pay, about 60 drachmas. The cash bonuses may not have been a reward for the mere sake of reward, but Alexander keeping up his end of a deal struck after Gaugamela. Philoxenus had already secured Susa, the satrap Abulites surrendering to him without incident.
