The Strand Study Bible

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

Danube River

Thrace

Illyria

CASPIAN SEA

BLACK SEA

Pella •

AEGEAN SEA

ASIA

• Sparta Thebes •

Tigris River

Euphrates River

Crete

Cyprus

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

With little more than 35,000 men, Alexander set off on an eleven-year, 20,000-mile journey, the journey that made his name imperishable –the conquest of the Persian Empire that became the conquest of the world. He was destined never to return to Greece again. By training and instinct Alexander sensed a profound military truth, as valid today as it was then –that a good commander must always protect the lines of supply and communication that are behind him. Thus, he never advanced until his lines of supply and communication were well in place. With everything in place, Alexander crossed the Hellespont (known as the Dardanelles today), the narrow strait of water that separates Europe from Asia, in his first step toward conquering the Persian Empire. With a cushion of time before his first battle with the Persians, Alexander decided to take a quick personal trip to Troy, where he sacrificed to the goddess Athena. He then returned to his base near the Granicus River. With the treasury almost empty (wars cost money), Alexander was ready to take on the mighty Persians, in order to take booty. The Persians, with their enormous, sprawling empire of many races, which could muster millions, were ready for Alexander’s attack. It was said that the Persians outnumbered Alexander’s armies four to one. The year was 334 BC.

CASPIAN SEA

BLACK SEA

GREECE

Hellespont

Granicus River

ASIA

• Issus

Tigris River

Euphrates River

Crete

Cyprus

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

While fighting the Persians at the Granicus River, Alexander’s close friend, “Black” Cleitus, saved his life by severing the

1459