Alexander, the Great . by Kirsi Salonen.
There's nothing new under the Sun, really. At least, not since Alexander walked the Earth.
Back in 2006, when war broke out in Lebanon, I remembered the very problematic siege of Tyre. After a while, there was an attack via a tunnel in Gaza, and again I remembered the also problematic siege of Gaza, when was built the first of the hundreds of tunnels existing there throughout the centuries. Now, the cease-fire in Gaza doesn't hold, and a new front might be opening again in Lebanon. Israel has got loads to deal with, and the historical perspective isn't a comfort. Alexander was furious in both cities. It wasn't a pretty sight. I thank Amon (and so did he) he was furious so few times in all his life. Let me remind you how those rages went.
Tyre was a fortified island, half mile from the coast. They refused to surrender or to let Alexander visit the main temple of the city. Then they repelled the attacks from the ships, so Alexander ordered a causeway to be built, to allow the siege towers to approach the walls. The Tyrians burned the towers and threw Alexander's emissaries from the top of the walls. Instead of giving up, like many others would, Alexander would not be stopped (he simply never gave up, not even once). He brought more ships, built a new causeway and stronger towers. After seven months, he led his men into the city. Thousands were killed, the rest sold into slavery and Tyre was destroyed. Soon after, the city was rebuilt and, across the ages, the causeway silted up and formed new ground. Alexander had to walk the water to conquer Tyre. His outstanding achievement is there today for all to see, as island and main land are one.
After news of this fury reached Gaza, it was expected it would surrender without a fight, as other cities did. But it wasn't so, and Alexander's fury mounted. It took him more than two months to conquer the city. As Gaza was located on a hill, ramps were built for the catapults, but Alexander was badly hurt during the first assault and had to leave the fight. However, the worst was that his men couldn't hold the attack and had to retreat. Perceiving it would be very difficult to breach the fortress, Alexander ordered a tunnel to be built under the walls. With a broken shoulder, he wasn't yet fit enough to join his army in the final push, a month later. That certainly enraged him beyond the pale, and it happened In the end t was really a one off: the only time he didn't lead the charge in battle.
Gaza was served the same treatment Tyre had suffered, with one plus, horrific and truly unlikely Alexander's greatness: the defiance of the commander of the city was so outrageous to him, that he hold him responsible for the doom of the people of Gaza and killed him by tying his feet to a chariot he drove himself and dragging him around the city, for all to see. Obviously, this was a serious warning to the rulers of the cities standing in his path. Some also said he was imitating Achilles, or even surpassing him in wrath, because Hector was already dead when Achilles dragged him. Others saw this spectacle as a compensation for his absence in the battle, to show his own men he was still the commander in chief. Perhaps both are true. Notwithstanding, Alexander's famous magnanimity yielded to his unleashed fury.
So, you see why my expectations about whatever happens in Gaza are always very somber: even the king of kings was out of his mind over there.
.Back in 2006, when war broke out in Lebanon, I remembered the very problematic siege of Tyre. After a while, there was an attack via a tunnel in Gaza, and again I remembered the also problematic siege of Gaza, when was built the first of the hundreds of tunnels existing there throughout the centuries. Now, the cease-fire in Gaza doesn't hold, and a new front might be opening again in Lebanon. Israel has got loads to deal with, and the historical perspective isn't a comfort. Alexander was furious in both cities. It wasn't a pretty sight. I thank Amon (and so did he) he was furious so few times in all his life. Let me remind you how those rages went.
Tyre was a fortified island, half mile from the coast. They refused to surrender or to let Alexander visit the main temple of the city. Then they repelled the attacks from the ships, so Alexander ordered a causeway to be built, to allow the siege towers to approach the walls. The Tyrians burned the towers and threw Alexander's emissaries from the top of the walls. Instead of giving up, like many others would, Alexander would not be stopped (he simply never gave up, not even once). He brought more ships, built a new causeway and stronger towers. After seven months, he led his men into the city. Thousands were killed, the rest sold into slavery and Tyre was destroyed. Soon after, the city was rebuilt and, across the ages, the causeway silted up and formed new ground. Alexander had to walk the water to conquer Tyre. His outstanding achievement is there today for all to see, as island and main land are one.
After news of this fury reached Gaza, it was expected it would surrender without a fight, as other cities did. But it wasn't so, and Alexander's fury mounted. It took him more than two months to conquer the city. As Gaza was located on a hill, ramps were built for the catapults, but Alexander was badly hurt during the first assault and had to leave the fight. However, the worst was that his men couldn't hold the attack and had to retreat. Perceiving it would be very difficult to breach the fortress, Alexander ordered a tunnel to be built under the walls. With a broken shoulder, he wasn't yet fit enough to join his army in the final push, a month later. That certainly enraged him beyond the pale, and it happened In the end t was really a one off: the only time he didn't lead the charge in battle.
Gaza was served the same treatment Tyre had suffered, with one plus, horrific and truly unlikely Alexander's greatness: the defiance of the commander of the city was so outrageous to him, that he hold him responsible for the doom of the people of Gaza and killed him by tying his feet to a chariot he drove himself and dragging him around the city, for all to see. Obviously, this was a serious warning to the rulers of the cities standing in his path. Some also said he was imitating Achilles, or even surpassing him in wrath, because Hector was already dead when Achilles dragged him. Others saw this spectacle as a compensation for his absence in the battle, to show his own men he was still the commander in chief. Perhaps both are true. Notwithstanding, Alexander's famous magnanimity yielded to his unleashed fury.
So, you see why my expectations about whatever happens in Gaza are always very somber: even the king of kings was out of his mind over there.
