Mercenary Commander: Memnon of Rhodes

[Memnon]

In 334, Alexander joined his general. From now on, the Macedonians were in numbers superior to the Persians. The Persian leaders discussed their strategy: Memnon proposed to use the Persian navy to attack the Macedonians at home, and to avoid battle in Asia, where they ought to destroy all crops, horse feed and towns. This would force Alexander, who was short of supplies, to return. Memnon's proposal was probably the best idea, but the other commanders agreed that it was better to fight.
The Persians dug themselves in on the banks of the river Granicus, the modern Biga Çay. If Alexander moved to the south, where he wanted to liberate Greek towns like Ephesus and Miletus, they could attack his rear; if he moved to the east to drive them out, their position was strong enough to withstand the attack of a larger army. However, the Persians were defeated (June 334).


Caria

Darius, however, understood that Memnon had been right about his strategy. He ordered the Persian navy to move to the Aegean sea; it had to come from Egypt, Phoenicia and Cyprus, and it arrived three days too late to prevent the capture of Miletus. However, Memnon, now appointed supreme commander, managed to keep the Persian naval base Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum) for a long time and was able to evacuate the town without unacceptable losses. In fact, Halicarnassus was the last Persian victory: after the siege, Alexander needed reinforcements, and it gave the Persians the opportunity to regroup.


A Phoenician warship on a coin, c.340 BCE (©!!)

Now, Memnon planned to reconquer the Aegean islands with his Phoenician, Cypriot and Egyptian warships; moreover, he contacted the Spartan king Agis, who was willing to organize an expedition to liberate Greece from the Macedonian hegemony. Their ultimate aim was to cut off Alexander's line of supply at the Hellespont. Alexander's expedition was now in great danger, and he was unable to march eastward, because he could not run the risk of loosing Greece. Unfortunately (for the Persians) or fortunately (for Alexander), Memnon died during the siege of Mytilene in August 333.

[Symptom777]

So anyway, why do you name yourself after a some git in The Scorpion King?

[Mike Dubbeld]

I am sure there is a point to all the above. Good luck to finding someone on FC that has any clue where Persia is, what Macedonia is, Who Darius is although there might be someone that recognizes the name Xerxes due to the relatively recent movie 'The 300'. The Battle of Marathon? King Leonidas? Fight in the shade?

[andy_amfad]

300?
I loved that movie.

[Memnon]

to symptom
you might feel that the....
word git is a suitable compliment in my society...
but actually it is the term in which we describe dweebs like you...

[Memnon]

Originally Posted by Mike Dubbeld

I am sure there is a point to all the above. Good luck to finding someone on FC that has any clue where Persia is, what Macedonia is, Who Darius is although there might be someone that recognizes the name Xerxes due to the relatively recent movie 'The 300'. The Battle of Marathon? King Leonidas? Fight in the shade?

Its nice to know....

that you understand the situation...

of frost cloud...

most of the incompetent idiots here know nothing about the past...

[Symptom777]

Originally Posted by Memnon

to symptom
you might feel that the....
word git is a suitable compliment in my society...
but actually it is the term in which we describe dweebs like you...

why do you...
think that putting...
some dots after every partial...
sentence you write...
adss anything to the content...
although if it did...
it would be nice...
because...

[Memnon]

i understand that there were people...

who were able to understand perfect sentences...

but for dweebs like you who respond in a few syllables.....

i think of it as been compassionate....

and understanding the crap in society like you...

NO direct offense there...

and anyway why would it bother you if i write it like this....


Symptom .... is .... a ... complete.... immature.... idiot.....

or as ....


Symptom--- is --- a--- complete--- immature--- idiot----.....

or...

Symptom + is + a + complete+ immature+ idiot.....

I hope very much that this simple explanation....
is not too complex for your primitive....
and unsophisticated BRAIN...

[Symptom777]

Anyway, why the fascination with the Scorpion King? Is it because you are 6?

[Memnon]

what the fuck are you talking about....
SCORPION KING
?
I have no recollection of commander memnon in scorpion king...

and if you read the damn thread it has no mention of a scorpion or a king....

read it again...

I merely posted a historical fact...

you and you effing obsession of scorpion king....

why are you obsessed about being a 6...

are you a 9 and a 6...
its no compliment (so try to figure out that its an insult)
i pity man....

i seriously do...

you should try some therapy or better yet you should just go your head...

man first the way i write my posts...

and now this...

go off to your insult room....

[Symptom777]

hmm, I think you're losing it.

[Memnon]

not as much as you have...

[andy_amfad]

at least the old fashioned skill of intelligent debate is still alive here though...

[Glennn]

Don't let Symptom fool you. He's got muscles he ain't showin' right now.

[Symptom777]

Originally Posted by Memnon

not as much as you have...

You're right - you never had it anyway.