How close did Alexander the Great come to dying at the Battle of the Granicus? Through the eyes of a Companion cavalry officer, relive the charge that nearly ended the Macedonian invasion before it began. This immersive historical podcast explores the courage, chaos, and split-second decisions that changed the course of Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire forever.

Narrator: Philotas, a Companion Cavalry officer

Setting: The Battle of the Granicus, 334 BCE

1. Historical Sourcesa. Ancient Sources

• Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander
• Plutarch, Life of Alexander
• Diodorus Siculus, Library of History
• Curtius Rufus, History of Alexander

Modern Sources

• Adrian Goldsworthy, Philip and Alexander
• Peter Green, Alexander of Macedon
• Philip Freeman, Alexander the Great
• The Landmark Arrian

2. Author's Note

a. Historical:

• The Battle of the Granicus.
• Parmenion's advice to delay the attack.
• Alexander's immediate crossing.
• Alexander's near death.
• The attack by Persian nobles.
• Cleitus the Black saving Alexander's life.
• The presence of Greek mercenaries fighting for Persia.
• Macedonian victory and capture of many surviving Greek mercenaries.

b. Reconstructed:

• Narrator and personal experiences.
• Campfire conversations.
• Internal thoughts and emotions.
• Dialogue and descriptions not preserved in sources.

This episode intentionally mirrors Episode 5 from the opposite side, revealing that the "unknown Macedonian officer" seen by the Persian cavalryman was Alexander himself, while also introducing the Greek mercenaries whose story will be explored in the following bonus episode.