AlexandertheGreat:

TheLogisticsof
Gold

Writtenby:
PaulDau

AlexandertheGreatSeminar
ProfessorTimHowe
11/21/15

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ThroughthenarrativeofAlexanderthegreat,thereisagreatdealofemphasisplaced
uponthevictoriesofAlexander.InthesevictoriesAlexanderobtainsconsiderableamountsof
wealth,inadditiontotheterritoryandallegiancesthatcomeswithvictoryofwar.Whathedoes
withthiswealthandhowhefacilitatesthelogisticsofitisaveryinterestingaspectofhis
campaign,andonethathasbeenseverelyoverlooked.Veryfewhistorianshavelookedintothe
logisticsoftheMacedonianarmyofAlexandertoanysignificantdegree,namelyDonaldEngels,
orinthediscussionofgoldatall.InthelogisticsofAlexanderstreasurestherearethreesections
ofstudy.ThefirstbeingthatoftransportingAlexandersgeneraltreasurewhileoncampaign,
Alexander'sWarChestandwhatitwouldconsistof,andfinallythelargesumsoftreasurefound
inthevaultsofconqueredcitiesandthelogisticsbehindmovingthem.Thementioningof
Alexandersmoneyisseeninnearlyallsources,bothmodernandancient,butwhatwedonot
seeismuchdiscussionontheactuallogisticsoftheenormousfundsthatsurroundAlexanders
campaign.Alexanderneededtocarrywithhimawellsuppliedwarchestduringhisinvasion,for
reasonsmentionedbelow,butthebulkofhismoneywouldhavebeenstashedatkeycities,most
notablyEcbatana.InthecurrentdiscussionsofthelogisticsofAlexanderscampaignthereisa
lackofconsiderationoftheimmenseweightandvolumethatcomeswithAlexanderswarchest.
Lastly,andperhapsthemostinterestingisthelogisticalnightmareofParmeniostaskof
collectingAlexandershoardsoftreasureandbringingittoEcbatana.
D.Engelshas,withextremededication,mappedoutthelogisticsofAlexander'sarmy.To
thegreatjoyofAlexanderhistorianhehascalculatedthefood,water,andsupplyneedsofthe
entirearmy,initsmarchintoPersiaandIndia.Heseeminglymissingnoprovisionorneed
requiredbythearmy.Indoingsohecreatesaverystrongattemptatwhatittooktomovesucha

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greatarmy,andwhatthatwouldmeanforAlexander.Unfortunately,hemissesonepoint,the
treasureofthePersianEmpire,nowundercontrolofAlexander.Atthebeginningofthe
invasionAlexanderbringonly70talentswithhim1.AftertakingthecityofSardis,Alexander
nowhascontrolofahugefortune,andshouldnothavemoneyproblemsagain.Engels,however,
simplysaysofthesubjectAfterreceivingthecityofSardisinsurrenderandconfiscatingits
badlyneededtreasury,AlexanderadvancedtoEphesos,coveringthe60miledistanceinfour
days.2Thistypeoftreatmentcontinuesthroughouthisbook3.TheonlyplaceinwhichEngels
bringsupthelogisticsofsuchafeatisinasinglesentenceindescribingwhatsomepackand
draught(carts)animalswouldbeusedfor:transportingsiegemachinery,firewood,booty,and
womenandchildren.Onlyinthefootnotes4doesheexpandonthisissueinsayingthatcarts
wereprobablyusedforthetransportationofthegold.Somethingthatwouldbeneededincertain
situations,elsewiseagreatdealofanimalswouldbeneeded,asdiscussedbelow.
AswellasEngels,JamesAshley5alsogivesashortdiscussionofthelogisticsinvolved
withtheMacedonianarmy.BetweenthreepagesAshleydiscussestheabilitiesandcarrying
loadsofthearmy.RelyingheavilyfromtheworkofEngelsaswellasLaneFox6,Ashleysimply
restatesthegeneralpremisesfromEngels.RecountingtheabilitiesoftheMacedonianarmy,and

PeterGreen,
AlexanderofMacedon,356323B.C.
:AHistoricalBiography.Berkeley,CA,USA:
UniversityofCaliforniaPress,2012,156.Alsothatisstillalotofgold,andwillbeputintoperspective
later.Diod.17.7.
2
DonaldW.Engels,
AlexandertheGreatandtheLogisticsoftheMacedonianArmy,
Berkeley:University
ofCaliforniaPress,1978,33.
3
D.Engelsalso,presumably,falselydeterminesthatAlexanderusedveryfewcartsfortransportation,which
wouldswayhiscalculations.
4
D.EngelscitesD.71.2cfCurt.3.3.24Plut.
Alex
.20.6Plut.
Alex
.24.12D.70.23Curt.3.11.20for
treasureandbooty.Neverdoeshebringanyoftheseweightsintoconsiderationforhiscalculations.
5
Ashley,JamesR,
TheMacedonianEmpire:TheEraofWarfareUnderPhilipIIandAlexandertheGreat,
359323B.C.
Jefferson,N.C.:McFarland,1998.
6
RobinLaneFox,
AlexandertheGreat.
[NewYork]:DialPress,1974.
1

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therangeofoperationitcanhold.UnlikeEngels,AshleytakesfromR.LaneFox,aswellas
ancientsources7todiscussthesimilarmattersofthePersianarmy.
InresponsetoEngelsbook,andconsequentlyinresponsetoAshleys,N.G.L.
Hammondwritesareviewdismissingthetheory,ofEngels,thatAlexanderwouldhaveuseda
limitednumberofcartsduetoahisfather'spolicies.ArguingthatbecausePersianroadswere
builtspecificallyforcarts,aswellasamistranslationbyEngels,Hammondstatesitisonly
logicalthatAlexanderwouldhavebroughtfarmorethanjustafewcarts.Aswillbediscussed
belowbothargumentshavemerit.Inaddition,HammondarguesthatEngelstheoryofpack
animalslimiteddistance,duetothemeatingthefoodthemselveswerecarrying,isfalse.
Hammondbelievesthatthepackanimalswouldbefedbygrazingand,oncetheywereoutof
food,wouldventureouttogathermore8.Thisisastrongpointofcontention,andonethatcould
causeanyfurthercalculationsmadebasedonEngel'swork,tobesimilarlywrong.Assuchthe
calculationswithinthisworkarebasedeitheronasingledaysworthoffood,orasamarch
throughthedesert,asallprovisionsinsuchacasewouldneedtobecarried.Bydoingthisweare
abletobetterunderstandthenecessarylogisticsundertheempiricalactuality,orasclosetoitas
wecanget,andfromthereestimatetheneedsforlesssureevents.
TounderstandthetransportationneedsofAlexanderwecanperformsomesimple
calculations,basedoffoftheworkbyEngels,togetagoodideaofthenecessaryunitsand
logisticsitwouldtaketomovethemoneybehindAlexander.Usingthe70talentsoftheinitial
invasionwecancalculateroughlytheresourcesitwouldrequire.Assumingtheweightofa

Curt.3.13
N.G.L.Hammond,1980,Reviewof
AlexandertheGreatandtheLogisticsoftheMacedonianArmy.

The
JournalofHellenicStudies
100.TheSocietyforthePromotionofHellenicStudies:25657.
8

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singletalentis57lbs9andusingthecarryingcapacitiesfromD.Engels,wecancalculatethatit
wouldtakeabout17packanimalstocarrythegoldforasingleday.10AsD.Engelsmentionsthe
longertheyaregonethemorefoodtheywouldneedtocarry,andthusthenumberofanimals
wouldincreaseatalarmingrateswitheachadditionalday.Becauseofthelegitimacyof
Hammondsargumentofgrazing,itisdifficulttocalculatelongertimespansinmuchaccuracy.
TofurtherHammondsargumentthattherewouldbeaheavieruseofcarts,thecalculationcan
bemadethatifonlycartswereuseditwouldtake8animalsand4cartstocarrythegoldadays
worthoffood11.ThiscalculationmayhavenoconsequenceasAlexanderwouldhavestored
muchofhissuppliesonhisships12duringtheinitialinvasionaswellastheamazinglysmall
amountofgoldduringtheinitialinvasionbelongingtoAlexanderhowever,thisisalsooneof
thefewtimesweactuallyhaveadecentideaoftheactualamountofgoldAlexanderhaswith
him.
AtthepointoftheinvasionAlexanderhasabout48,100soldiers,6,100cavalry,16,000
followers,forabout65,000totalnumberofpeople.Withthesenumberstherewouldneedtobe
2,340packanimalsforwarsupplies.Ifyouaddthisto17neededforgold,assuming,asD.
Engelsatthispointthatitisbeingcarriedbythearmyandnotthefleet,thenyouwouldhavea

Humphrey,JohnWilliam,JohnPeterOleson,andAndrewN.1955Sherwood.
GreekandRoman
Technology:ASourcebook:AnnotatedTranslationsofGreekandLatinTextsandDocuments.
London:
Routledge,1998.487
10
D.Engels1415horseormulecancarry200lbsandacamel300lbsminusaday'srationsof10lbsfor
theanimalwouldmeananaverageof240lbs.Theequationwouldthenbe(X*57)/W=NWhereX=number
oftalentsN=numberofanimalsneededtocarrygoldW=Theweighteachanimalcancarry,F=weightofthe
foodconsumed.
11
J.Ashley81Acartcancarry1,000lbswithtwoanimals.D.Engels15says1,000lbs1,200lbswith2
oxenwhowouldneed100lbsoffoodadayandwouldtravelathalfthespeed.Forsakeofaoptimistic
estimatethiscalculationisdonewith1,000lbsofgoodsand10lbsoffoodforeachoftheanimals,
assumingtheyarehorseormule.
12
D.Engels26,Ashipcouldholdabout400tonsor10,000talents.Itisworthnotingthatinthiscalculationa
talentisabout80lbsshowingtheinconsistencyoftheactualweightofatalentandthatthe57lbsusedin
thisessayisontheconservativeside.
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totalof65,000people,2,357packanimalsand6,100warhorses,foratotalof8,457animals,
includingcavalry 13.Thismayappeartobearelativelysmallnumber,anditwould,butaswillbe
shownbelowitiseasytoseehowquicklythisnumbercanrise,andasD.Engelssays,itis
highlyimprobabletheMacedonianseverusedmorethan20,000packanimalsatanytime,andas
suchitishighlyprobablethatAlexanderkeptasmuchgoldashecouldwiththefleet14orheldin
conqueredcities.Aswillbediscussedbeloweventheargumentofnothavingmorethan20,000
packanimalswouldrarelybethecase.InactualityAlexanderwouldprobablyneverhavemore
than1015,000aswillbediscussedbelow.
IntermsthenforthegeneraldaytodayneedsofAlexandertherearemanyunsure
questionsaswell.D.Engelsattemptstobetterunderstandtheneedsandinunderstandingthe
hugeamountofanimalsneededtocarrythefoodforjustonedaynotesthattheclaim,bythe
ancientsources,thatthearmywouldcarryprovisionsfor30daysmorelikelymeanttheybrought
withthenecessarygoldtobuyprovisionsforthatmanydays15.Knowingthatanormalsoldier
wouldbepaid1drachmaperday16itwouldbeconceivablethattherationsfor1man17would
costapproximatelywhathemakesinaday18.Withthiswecancalculatethatitwouldcostalittle
over25talentsperdayforfoodtofeedthearmy19.Thisisaratherlargeamountwhencompared
totheonly70talentsthatAlexandermaybecarryingduringtheinitialinvasion.

13

D.Engels19.BoththenumbersIcalculatedaswellasD.Engelshereisforonlyonedaysworthoffood.
D.Engels20.Althoughthenumberofpackanimalsestimatedislessthan20,000,evenapproachingsuch
ahighnumberwouldprovidelogisticproblemsandslowthearmy.
15
D.Engels20.
16
Burncitedbelow.
17
D.Engels146.3lbsofrationsperperson
18
Itisdifficulttoknowthecostsoffood,especiallyatsuchquantities.Forthesakeofbeingconservative
andunabletoknowthepreciseamountone3lbrationwillbeconsideredtocost1drachma.
19
(65,000people*3lb)+(25,790*10lb)=452,900lbsoffood.452,900/3lbs=151,000.151,000/6000=25
talents.
14

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PeterGreenwritesagreatdealontheaspectofgoldandpaymentwithintheHellenistic
world,inthatwritingweseeashortdiscussionofAlexanderrunningoutofgoldinhiswarchest
andwithaskinghisfriendsmanagedtofind1,000talentsfromEumenes,whohadthisamount
withhim20.This,interestingly,showsthatwhileAlexanderhadconqueredanimmenselyrich
landandhasbeentakingitstreasureforhimself,heisunabletomaintainafullwarchest.This
alsowillbediscussedfurtherbelow.Perhapsevenmoreimportantly,Greenwritesofoneofthe
onlysituationswhereactualtransportationofgoldisrecorded.InaneventbeforeAlexanders
invasionofPersiaandunderthereignsofPhilipofMacedonandArtaxerxesOchusofPersia,
OchussendsgoldfromSusatoAthenscarriedby12,000camels21,withnomentionofthe
amountofgold22.Lookingatothersourceswecanseethatacamelwouldgenerallycarryabout
225lbsofgold23,orabout4talents,soifeverycamelwasusedforgoldthecalculationwould
adduptobeabout48,000talents.Thelastsuitablemention,byGreen,isthatofAlexanders
occupationofSusa,whereGreenstatesAlexanderhadbetween4050,000talentshandedoverto
him,orabout12,000camelloadsworth.
Ifwetakethe50,000talentsandassumethatthiswouldbeclosetotheneedsof
Alexanderthenthatwouldmeanthereinforcementswouldneedtobringanextra12,000camel
loadsworthtoAlexanderalongwiththe25,000piecesofarmorandtheirsupplies.Thisisatask
thatwouldtakesomeseriouscalculations,beforesimplysuggestingitastheanswerto

20

P.Green,4312.Anamusingstory,andtraumaticallyareasonforthelossofmanyimportantdocuments.
Alsoworthytonotetheextremeamountofwealthasinglepersonhadwith.Itwouldthenbereasonableto
assumethattheothergeneralsandhighlyrankedofficialswouldbecarryinglargeamountswiththemas
well.
21
Notethatthereisnomentionofcarts
22
P.Green,51.
23
A.J.H.Goodwin,1957.TheMedievalEmpireofGhana.
TheSouthAfricanArchaeologicalBulletin
12
(47).SouthAfricanArchaeologicalSociety:10812.

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Alexandersmoneyproblems,asGreendoes.Oddlynosources,ancientormodern,seemtocare
howmanyexactly12,000camelsare,orthelogisticsofmarchingthemthosedistances.
Inaddition,GreendiscussesafewoftheoperatingcostsofAlexanderscampaign.Once
Alexanderreachesthesecondpartofhisinvasion,intoAsia,hehashoardsofmoneyfromthe
Persiankingdom,andbeginsspendingit.GreendiscusseshowAlexandersdailymassbillwas
upwardsof10,000drachmasforjustAlexanderandhisofficers24.InaccordancetoA.R.Burn,
onetalentequaledabout6,000drachmas25.GreenthenseemstoaddressthatAlexanderhad
becomehardpressedforcashoncemoreinIndiaashepartlydefrayedcostsbyappointingthirty
trierarchsontheAthenianmodel26.AgainitisinterestingtoseehoweasilyGreensuggeststhe
reinforcementsbeingabletobringalongextragoldbullion.
F.E.Adock27writesofthegeneralwarshipoftheGreekandMacedonians.Inhis
discussionhebringsupthefinancialneedsoftheancientarmies,specificallyAlexanders.By
statingfirsthowAlexanderwasdesperateformoneyattheeveoftheinvasion,hetookagreat
riskwiththebattleoftheGranicus.aftersuchtheinvasionbegantopayforitself.AsAdock
addresses,theancientmilitaryconquestshadtobefullyfundedthroughoutthecampaign,unlike
modernstates,theycouldnotborrowsofreely,andthushadtocarrylargesumswiththem.
Adockgivesgoodinsightthe
corpsdelite
ofthearmywerenotonlyhighlypaid,butpaidyear
24

P.Green,413,seeCurt.9.3.35,Diod.17.95.25forGreenssources.
A.R.Burn,19021991.
AlexandertheGreatandtheHellenisticEmpire.
NewYork:Macmillan,1948,
7679.500talentsequaledthesumof3,000,000drachmasandonedrachmawastheusualwageofa
skilledworkmanorhighlytrainedsoldier.P.GreencitesBellinger368inthataveryconservative
approximationisthatthearmywouldcost193talentsamonthtopay,givingcavalry2drachmasaday
andinfantry4obolsratherthan1drachma,thereisnomentionofpaymentforthebaggagetrain,which
wouldbehuge.
26
P.Green,413414.Atrierarchisawealthymanwhoweremaderesponsibleforoutfittingvesselsand
payingtheircrews.Morelikely,inmymind,Alexandersarmywaspressedformoney,nottheEmpire,due
totheextremelogisticsofbringingtoomuchgoldwith.
27
F.E.Adcock,18861968,
TheGreekandMacedonianArtofWar.
Berkeley:UniversityofCalifornia
Press,1957,6768
25

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around.GivingthenaspecificexamplethatAntigonusIhadcarriedaveryfullandamplewar
chesttokeepthesoldiersloyal.InhisdiscussionhedrawsfromGriffith28whowritesadetailed
accountofmercenariesandthepayandmaintenanceofthem.Griffithwriteshowthe
mercenariestendedtobepaidinatleasttwoorthreedifferentways.Thefirstbeingthatof
rationseitherrationsthemselves,orpaymentforthepurchaseofrations.Thesecondwasthe
salaryorwageofthesoldier.Thethirdwouldbe,insomecases,abonusforajobwelldone.As
Griffithexplainstherationspayment,weatherdonedaily,weekly,ormonthly,wouldneedtobe
paidwhileinthefieldtokeepthesoldierswellfedandalive29.Thesalaryofthesoldiersonthe
otherhandcameinmanydifferentmethods.Oftenaportionofpaymentwasgivenbeforethe
campaign,asthesoldierswouldprefer,paymentonaregularschedule,orthemoreconvenient
waywouldbeforpaymenttocomeattheend.Thislastoptionwouldbethebestoptionforthe
logisticsofpayment,astheywouldnotneedtolugallthepaymentwiththemoncampaign.
Eitherwaythearmywouldstillneedtobringenoughgoldforthepaymentforrations,aswellas
anybonusesthatwouldbegivenout.Thesoldiers,howeverwouldhavefearedthisasthere
wouldbegreaterchancesofdelayordefault30.Itisalsounknownexactlyhowoftenorwhen
Alexanderpayshissoldiers.Weseemanycasesofhimgivingbonusesorpayingsoldiersatthe
endofthefirstpartofthecampaign,butthisdoesnotnecessarysuggesttheyhadnotbeenpaid
forthemanyyearsprior.
BytakingintoaccountthegeneralwagesofAlexander'smen,andtheapproximationof
foodcostswecancalculatethegeneralamountofgoldAlexanderwouldneedtocarrywithhim.

G.T.Griffith,
TheMercenariesoftheHellenisticWorld
.NewYork:AMSPress,1977.AswellasDiod.
20.108.
29
G.Griffith,291292.UnderPhilipVofMacedontheywerepaidevery30days.
30
G.Griffith,293294.
28

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Duetotheimpossibilityofcalculatingexactnumbersthecalculationswillfollow
approximationsof45,000infantry,6,000cavalryand15,000followers.Assumingthateach
infantrywaspaid1drachmaaday,cavalry3,andfollowers31.Everydaythepayrollwouldbe
68,000drachmaorabout11.3talents.Foramonthitwouldcost340talents.Thisinadditionto
theroughly25talentsforfoodwouldputAlexander'sbillatabout365talentsofgoldevery
month.Toerroronthesideofconservativeandtotakeintoaccountbonusesandthewageof
marshalsandotherofficersroundingupto400talentsamonthwillgiveusastrongestimation
point.AssumingAlexandercarriedallbut70talentswithhimatthepointofinvasion,which
wouldmeanhewouldhaveenoughgoldtopayandfeedhisarmyforawhole5.3days.Taking
thisintoconsiderationitseemsextremelyimplausiblethatAlexanderwouldevercarryeven
closetothislittleamountwithhimafterhisgainingthespoilsofwarfromPersia.Thatbeing
saidthereisabsolutelynowayAlexanderwouldcarryallofthelootthathecameacrosseither
consideringtheburdenitwouldcause,andhisneedforspeedandefficiency.Ifwearetotake
thestatementthatAlexanderwouldcarryenoughsuppliesforonly30daysthenhewouldonly
takethe400talentswithhimoncampaign.ThisbeingsaidamorelikelyamountAlexander
wouldhavecarriedwouldbecloserto5,000talents,enoughtofeedandpaythearmyforabouta
year.ThisofcoursewoulddependonthelegofthecampaignAlexanderwason,andthe
predictionsoftheoutcomesofthecampaign.Thiswouldfurtherexplaintheeaseofrunninglow
onfundswhileinIndia,aswellastheenormousspendinginIndia.
ThiscalculationisjustofAlexanderswarchest,itdoesnotincludethatofallofthegold
carriedbythemarshalsorsoldiers.WecanseeinthestoryofEumenesthatduringatimeof

31

PleasefindwheretheheckIfoundthis

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financialhardshipforAlexanderheaskedhisfriendsformoney.Eumenes,asChiefSecretary,
andhelddeartoAlexandernotedheonlyhadwithhim300talentsandcouldsparebut100.
Alexanderknewhewaslyingandsethistentonfiretoreveal1,000talentsworth32.Whatthis
showsusthatonemanalonewouldcarryatleast1,000talentswithhim,andassumingtheother
officerswouldcarrytheirowntreasuriesaround,thetotalamountwouldsuretobebetweenthe
510,000talentrange,forAlexander'sarmiestotaltreasure
Forthesakeoftransportingthearmies10,000talents,arealisticnumberofbaggage
animalsneededcanbecalculated.Followingthesamemethodasabove,assumingAlexander
wouldcarry10,000talentswithhim,only2,500animalswouldbeneeded,orifcartsweresolely
used,1,270animalswith635carts33.TakingthegeneralnumbersthatAlexanderhadatthe
invitationof48,100soldiers,6,100cavalry,16,000followers,forabout65,000totalnumberof
people34this,inadditiontothenumbersforthetreasurewouldequalabout65,000peopleand
about2,340packanimalsforwarsupplies.Thismeansincludingthepackanimalsforgoldthere
wouldbeabout4,840or3,610packanimals,muchlessthanthe20,000maximumsetforth
above,evenifthecavalryanimalswereincluded.Thisshowsusthatnotonlywouldthis
drasticallyincreasethespeedatwhichAlexanderwouldbeabletomarch,butalsoshowthe
greaterbenefitofnotusingcarts.Becauseanimalsusedforcartsrequiremorefood,atlower
levelsofgoodstheirbenefitdecreases.ItisextremelyplausiblethenthatAlexanderwould
decideittobeeasierandfastertodealwithtwicethenumberofanimalstoavoidtheslowness
andthebreakingofcarts.1,250animalsisarelativelysmallnumbercomparedtothesizeofthe

Plut.
Eum
.2.2
Notethisisagainthenumbersforjustaonedaymarch,forreasonsdescribedabove.
34
Alexandersarmyfluctuatedinnumbersgreatlythroughouttheentirecampaign.Thesenumbersare
simplybeingusedasabenchmark.
32
33

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army,aswellasnotincreasingthelengthofthetrainbyanyrealnoticeableamount,asthecarts
wouldtakeaboutthesamespaceastheextraanimals.Forfartherdistances,withthenecessityto
carryadditionalfoodfortheanimals35theamountofanimalswouldgreatlyincrease,andcause
theuseofcartstobecomemuchmoreprobable.Theideaoftransportinggoodsforanarmyisfar
fromanewproblem.InthewordsfromSunTzu'sArtofWar:Onecartloadoftheenemies
provisionsareequivalenttoTwentyofonesown36.Atruththatismorethanprovencorrectby
Engelsworkandwhatisprovidedhere.
Ininstancessuchascrossingadesert,thecalculationssetforthbyD.Engelsismore
accurate.AsEngelssetsforthitwouldtakeabout8,400animalstocarrythearmyssuppliesfor
only2days.For3daysEngelssuggestsitwouldtake18,900animalsandonthe4thdayawhole
50,40037.Thisiswithouttakingintoaccounttheanimalscarryingthegold.Forrealisticreasons
noarmywouldtakeitsfullwarchestthroughadesertassumingEngelscalculationsarecorrect.
Assumingonly1,000talentsoftreasurewascarriedtotal,intothedesert,thenusingD.Engels
amountsof80lbsofwaterand20lbsoffoddereachday,thenitwouldtakeabout300animalsto
carryforoneday,anadditional1,140thesecond,andsoon.ClearlyasAlexanderdidinfact
traversedeserts,andasthecalculationsbyD.Engelsshowsthatasimpossible,adifferent
methodwasused.D.Engelssuggestsafewthingsonthesubject,thefirstandmostbasic,isthat
onlycamelswouldhavebeenused,astheycarrybothmoreweightandcandrinklesswaterfor
longerperiodsoftime.Secondlyamuchsmallerforcewouldhavetraveledthroughareassuchas
Egyptwhichwouldallowthesmalloasistobeabletosupplythegroup.AsEngelssuggests

35

Assumingtheywouldnotbeabletograzeenoughtostayproperlyfed.
SunTzu2.15.
37
D.Engels2021
36

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eachoasiswouldhavebeenabouta3daymarch38.AswhatEngelsputsforthseemstoconclude
aratherbasicsystemfordealingwiththedesertsofEgypt,itstillshowstheimmenseamountof
logisticplanningaswellasthedangerinvolvedwithattemptingsuchafeet.
Everythingdiscussedpreviouslyisatbest,speculative,aswedonothaveanyaccountsof
thetruecostsofwarforAlexander.Thisbeingsaidwedoknowwithsomedegreeofaccuracy
thetransferringofgoldbyParmenio,whoisanunsungherointhecampaignofAlexander.Our
ancientsourcesseemtousehimasjustacountertoAlexander,andintheend,justanoldman.
Whenonelookspasttheliterarytacticsofthoseancientwritersweseeadifferentsideof
Parmenio,asidethatcouldalmostgivehimthetitleParmeniothegreat.Sadly,Parmeniowas
killedeitherbeforehewasabletorecordmuchofwhathedid,orthoserecordingsaresimply
losttohistory.PerhapsthegreatestfeatofParmenioissadlyneglected,themovementofPersia's
treasuretoEcbatana.
EngelsbrieflydiscussesinhisbookoftheutterdifficultylaiduponParmeniowith
transferring,asEngelsapproximates,7,290tonsofgoldandsilverfromthreemajorcitiestothe
fortesatEcbatanausing20,000mulesand5,000camels39.ThediscussionofEngelsreadsnear
allofwhatiswrittenaboveonthesubjectandcontinuesontosaythatitisdisappointingthatwe
donotknowmoreofhisfeat.Insuchheonlycitesancienthistorians,suggestingthatother
modernscholarshavestayedclearofstudyingthesubjectindepth40.

38

D.Engels6263
Alsonote,thatisalotofmules.Theamountoftimeitwouldtaketopackalloftheanimalscorrectly,as
wellasfeedthemonlyaddstothedifficultyofbringingthatmanypackanimalsonatrip.Itisalso
noteworthythattheynevermentionhowmanyhumanswereneededforthetask.
40
D.Engels,36,7980forfurtherinvestigationathissourceslookatArr.1.24.3inpersis,Arr.3.18.1Curt.
5.6.11Arr.3.19.7Diod.71.12Plut.
Alex
.37.2Str.15.3.9.
39

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Foxfurthersthediscussion,onlybriefly,indiscussingAlexanderswishtomovethe
treasuryofthePersianEmpirefromPersepolistoEcbatana.For6,000talentsofgold(onlyabout
168tons)Alexanderordered10,000baggageanimalsand5,000camelsforthetransportation41.
DisputedbyAshley,hesuggeststhatAlexanderhad120,000talents(ofsilver)from
Persepolisand6,000talentsfromPasargadae(about3,500tons).Ashleythenwritesthatusinga
largenumberofmulesand3,000camelsthetreasurewastransportedtoEcbatana42.
ThankfullyAshleydoesnotstopthere,andlaterwritesofthemoveitself.Hestatesthat
Parmeniotraveledwithaforce6,000strong,includingthatoffouroftaxiesofthephalanx,
Greekallies,Greekmercenaries,andtheThraciancavalry43.Ashleythenstatesthat20,000
mulesand5,000camelswereusedtotransporttheover7,000tonsoftreasure44.
Lookingintotheprimarysourcesitiseasytoseeboththepotentialconfusionandlimited
discussionoftheissue.LookingatAppendixAitisclearthatthemostmoneyAlexanderever
heldinhispositionwasclosetoabout215,000talents.AfterthesackingofPersepolisitis
estimatedAlexanderhadjustunderthe180,000talentsthataresaidtobethere45.Considering
thefactthatthatestimateonlycountslargertransfersofwealth,about1,000talentsormore,as
wellasnottakingintoconsiderationadditionalincomefromtaxesoranyotherunrecorded
transfer.Luckilyforus,thistotalmatchestheamountsaidtobeheldthere,otherthanby

41

L.Fox,260forfurtherinvestigationathissourceslookatDiod.71.2Curt.5.6.9.Thisisinterestingas
thatisnotthatmanylessanimalsforalotlessweightofgold.Theuseofcartsinoneplaceandnotanother
couldprovideanexplanationofthis.
42
J.Ashley,276forfurtherinvestigationathissourceslookatCurt.5.6Diod.17.71Curt.6.6.
43
Thisfactisdisputed,asArrianappearstocontradicthimself.Toseediscussionontopicsee:Milns,R.D..
1978.Arrian'sAccuracyinTroopDetails:ANote.
Historia:ZeitschriftFrAlteGeschichte
27(2).Franz
SteinerVerlag:37478.Alsoweseealackofservantstohelpinthemove,asitcanbeassumedthe
soldiersdidnotdoallthework,astheyhadtheirowngeartheyhadtocareforaswell.
44
J.Ashley,280forfurtherinvestigationathissourceslookatArr.3.19.AlsonoteAshleycitesbothEngels
andFoxsdiscussionsonthistopic.
45
AppendixA

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Plutarch.ThemassofthewealthwasreceivedatPersepolis,whichmostofthesourcesagreethat
120,000talentsweretakenfrom.Plutarchontheotherhandoffersthattheamounttaken
matchedthatofSusa,andthusonly40,000talentswerereceived46.Plutarchalsodoesnotgivea
numbertoreferringtotheamountheldinEcbatana.Aswillbediscussedbelowhowever,the
generallyacceptednumbersof120,000and180,000canbebackedupbyunderstandingand
calculatingthecarryingcapacityofthebaggageanimalsAlexanderhadfortheproject.
Itisfurthermoreworthnotingthereasoningbehindtakingthegold,andinthemannerof
whichitwastaken.CurtiusstatesthatthegoldwastakenfromPersepolis,withAlexanderfor
militaryexpenses.Thereisnopossiblewaythiswasthereasonfortakingthegold,norwasit
whathappened.Curtiuswrites:forhehaddecidedtotakeitwithhimformilitaryexpenses47.
Asdiscussedabove,thereisnopossiblewayAlexanderwouldevertakethatmuchgoldwith
himoncampaign.Usingtheformulafromabovethatwouldbeabout28,500animalsor13,680
cartsneededjusttocarrygold.Foreitheroftheseoptionstheenormousincreaseinthebaggage
trainwouldsimplybetoobigofaburdenforAlexandertotakewith,andthemuchmore
plausibleanswerissimplythathetookwhatheneededandsentmost,ifnotall,ofittoEcbatana.
Whileitcouldbearguedthatwiththeuseofcarts,thenumberofanimalsneededtocarrythe
entiretyofthetreasurewouldbeunderthecutoffof20,000,setforthbyD.Engels,however,As
discussedabove,Alexanderwouldnothaveneedoftransportingthatmuchgoldwithhim,nor
woulditbetimeeffective,ascartswouldslowhisarmydownconsiderably.Themuchmore
realisticoptionistheAlexanderwouldsimplyrefillhiswarchestaftereachvictory,andifever

46
47

AppendixB
Curt.5.6.9

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neededwouldsendformoregoldtobetransportedtohimfromtheclosestlocation,although
thatdoesnotseemtoneedtohappenuntilIndia.
ForabetterideaatthetaskathandforParmeniowecantakethetotalamountthatwas
heldatEcbatanaof180,000talents48andtakeoutwhatweknowwastransferredthere:either
40,0000or120,000fromPersepolis49,6,000fromPasargadae50,and40,000fromSusa51wecan
assumeatleast166,000talentsweretransportedthereandbetween014,000talentswerealready
beingheldthere.Whatisnotclearisexactlywhenorhowthemassamountsoftreasurewas
transported.WeknowthatParmeniowasplacedinchargeofthetransferandthat20,000mules
and5,000camelswereused52.Touseonly25,000animalswouldbeimpossiblewithouttheuse
ofcarts.Ifweusethesameformulathatweworkedoutaboveitcanbeseenforaanimalonly
baggagetrainitwouldtakeover41,000animals,orjustover21,000cartsifonlycartswere
used.Assumingthatcamelswouldnotusecarts,thatwouldmeanatleast5,000oftheanimals
wouldnotbepullingacart,soifeachcamelwouldcarry300lbsoftreasure53andall20,000
mulespulledcartsthencombinedtheycouldcarry,atmaximumjustover183,000talents.
AmazinglythisworksouttobejustabouttheexactnumberoftalentsheldatEcbatana.Thisnot
onlyconfirmsthatthenumbersofanimalsgivenbytheancientsourcesareprobablycorrect,but
thatAlexanderwouldhavehadtohaveusedcartsonalargescaleinsomeaspects.Speedwas
notoftheessenceinthisoperation,unlikeinthemovementsofthemainbody,sowhile
48

Arr.3.30.,Diod.17.80,Strabo..15.3.9.
Diod.17.71.1,Curt.5.6.9.Arr.178givesusthepossibilityofthetwoamounts,citingPlut.
Alex
.37and
Strabo..15.3.9.Plut.
Alex
.37statesasmuchgoldasinSusaandStrabo.statesthatthetreasurefoundin
SusaandPersiswasbetween4050,000.Itisgenerallyacceptedbymodernhistoriansthattheactual
amountwas120,000,asstatedinJ.Ashley276,R.LaneFox259,andthusthatnumberwillbeusedinthe
calculation
50
Curt.5.6.10
51
Strabo.15.3.9,Plut.
Alex.
36.
52
Diod.71.12,Plut.
Alex
.37.2,Arr.3.19.7.
53
Seenabove
49

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Dau16

Alexandermayhaveusedveryfewcartsduringtheactualcampaign,theywereprobablynot
outlawedordiscouragedalltogether.
AsmentionedabovealookatwhatPlutarchstateswascarriedwouldbeabout120,000
totaltobringtoEcbatana,orabout40,000justfromPersepolisusingonly2,000mulesandonly
500camels54.aquickcalculationwouldput40,000talentsatabout9,500animalsor4,560carts,
grosslyoverthe2,500animalsPlutarchclaims.Themostlogicalnumberiswhatisgivenabove,
andgivenbythesourcesofabout20,000mulesand5,000camels. Anotherpossibilityforthe
transferofgoldtoEcbatanaisthatParmeniodiduseonlytheanimalswithoutcarts,butsimply
tookmultipletrips.Asthegoldwascomingfromafewdifferentplacesthisisplausible,
althoughhighlyimprobableduetothemathaddingupwiththeuseofcarts.

ThetransportationofAlexanderstreasureisaneasypieceofstudytolookover,
asitisapieceoflogisticalstrategythatdoesnotappeartohaveanyconsequencesof
Alexanderscampaign.Thisverywellmaynotbethecase.Engelswriteshowthelogisticsofthe
armyplayedapivotalroleinthemarchingabilitiesofhisarmyandgivesusinsightatthepure
massofstrategyandknowledgewasnecessary.Allofthiswithleavingoutperhapstheheaviest
andmostburdeninggoodtheyhad.RecalculatinginthegoldthatAlexanderhadtocarryaswell
asalloftheresourcesthatwasputintomovingsuchahugesumofittoEcbatanadirectlyrelates
tohowweareabletoviewtheabilities,resourcesandstrategyutilizedbyAlexander.

54

Plut.
Alex.
37

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Appendix
A

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