The siege of Tyre Alexander the Great and the gateway to empire

The conquest of the Phoenician city of Tyre by Alexander the Great in early 332 BCE was one of the epic sieges of antiquity. It ended with the city's destruction and revealed both Alexander's ruthlessness and his mastery of all aspects of siege warfare. Until now, there has been no comprehensive account of the siege intended for general readers and students. Guenther (emer., Univ. of Oregon) has filled that gap with this clear and vividly written monograph. The Siege of Tyre consists of 19 chapters divided into five parts: "The Long March," "Phoenicia," "The Siege: Land Assault," "The Siege: Sea Assault," and "Afterword." Endnotes and appendixes on ancient sources and the end of the siege close the book. The author's lucid discussions of the siege's technological aspects are particularly good. Also appealing are the numerous quotations from ancient sources and the inclusion of works by modern scholars on important issues concerning the siege. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduates. --Stanley M. Burstein, emeritus, California State University, Los Angeles

A historian focuses on a key victory that cemented the Macedonian king's "reputation for invincibility." In an absorbing, meticulously researched study, Guenther hones in on Alexander's 332 BC siege of what was once a Phoenician island--now attached to the coast of Lebanon. In hot pursuit of the Persian emperor, Darius, Alexander made the strategic move to disband the Macedonian-Greek navy, as it was no match for the powerful Persian navy, and instead concentrate on striking by land the string of Phoenician coastal towns that made, supplied, and repaired the great Persian ships. After enduring a long march into Asia Minor, then clashing with and scattering Persian troops in the battles of Granicus and Issus, Alexander moved down the Phoenician coast to subdue the home ports, from Arados to Sidon--and all except Tyre accommodated him. The Tyrians resisted and killed Alexander's envoys, ensuring a violent outcome. The author undertakes in detail the elaborate engineering feats that Alexander and his army used to besiege the recalcitrant Tyre, starting with the "mole," a kind of massive pier to reach the city's walls. Despite the ingenious resistance of the Tyrians, Alexander now had a reinforced navy arrive to block the harbor, as well as the use of his catapults and rams, and perhaps "ladders" (the author rather humorously debates the various historians on the scholarly interpretation of certain ancient Greek words), to breach the walls at last. Drawing from ancient sources as well as from modern historians, Guenther dwells extensively on the makeup of Alexander's army and marvelous engineering for a surprisingly readable adventure. Suspense and action galore in this original, accessible study of an otherwise well-known historical personage. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.