Map Description

Historical Map of the Pinarus Valley (Pinarus River).

The Battle of Issus, November 333 BC — Initial Situation


Illustrating

From our ancient sources, we can be confident about several key aspects of the initial battle dispositions at Issus:


:: Macedonian Army ::

Alexander positioned himself on the right wing with his elite Companion Cavalry, while his trusted general Parmenion commanded the left wing of the Macedonian army.

:: Persian Army ::

On the Persian side, Darius III took his traditional position in the center of his army, with his Greek mercenaries, a crucial component of his forces, also positioned in the center of the Persian line.

:: Battlefield ::

The battlefield itself was distinctly constrained, with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and mountains on the other.

Drawing from Arrian's account, the geography created a compressed battlefield, with the usable space being only about 14 stades wide (approximately 2.5-3 km or 1.55 - 1.86 miles) between the sea and the foothills.

This relatively narrow space was significant because it prevented the Persians from bringing their full numerical advantage to bear, as they couldn't deploy their entire army effectively in the confined space.

The Pinarus River, which ran through the battlefield, had steep banks in some places. The Persians initially crossed this river northward when they moved past Alexander, then had to turn around and cross back south to face him. When they took their defensive position, they used these river banks as a natural fortification, with Persian forces installing stakes along some sections.

Another geographical aspect we can be confident about is that the ground rose more steeply on the inland (mountain) side than on the coastal side. This affected the deployment options for both armies.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

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