Page 72 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

Greatest Battles

Indian war elephant
War elephants were used in India for
centuries before Alexander’s arrival there.
They typically carried a crew of three or
four, including a driver, or mahout. The
Cavalry spear Companions of the king riders were typically armed with bows and
Alexander carried a xyston, the Alexander rode into combat surrounded sometimes javelins. An elephant’s tusks
Macedonian cavalry spear, as his by his vaunted Companion cavalrymen. might also be tipped with poison to make the
primary weapon. With a shaft They wore helmets made of bronze that risk of being gouged even greater. However,
made of cornel wood and an iron allowed excellent vision and hearing in while the animals were a formidable weapon,
spearhead, it was approximately the chaos of battle. Protected also by once injured they were prone to rampage
3.5 metres long. It was balanced linen and metal cuirasses, their main indiscriminately — killing fighters on either
at the rear by a 38-centimetre weapon was the xyston. side — or try to quit the field, especially if
buttspike. His sidearm was a their drivers were slain. Living for up to 80
straight iron sword. years, the best fighting animals were thought
to be around 40 years old.

Death of Bucephalus
Bucephalus was Alexander’s
favourite horse. It bore his
master through all of his major
battles and over thousands of
miles. But the faithful mount
died soon after the Battle of
the Hydaspes. To commerate
Alexander’s armour the steed’s passing, Alexander
Alexander wore a cuirass founded a city, Bucephala,
(thorax) composed of several further down the river.
layers of stiff linen. It was
fringed with pteruges (thin
strips of material) at the waist
and shoulders. Around the
midsection of the garment was a
layer of iron scales.

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