Tristan Hughes

It's famous for its fertile lands, but as you say, they can't stay there too long.

That's also, as you mentioned, where Alexander falls ill for a brief amount of time.

I think there's a story that Darius or someone

tries to bribe the medic, the doctor, to kill him, and he doesn't.

And Darius, by this time, you know, he's gathered an army.

He's come west and he's a bit to the south in Syria.

I think there's a story that he's actually prepared a big plane for his large army where he wants Alexander to come and fight him.

But Alexander is delayed because he's ill.

And he then starts marching south towards present day Lebanon.

But then Darius appears out of nowhere, doesn't he?

Behind him.

To the Pinarus or River Issus, as you say, where he is.

And it's so fascinating.

You always have to look at a map to see the idea of how he kind of...

Once again, a horseshoe kind of goes around Alexander to end up in Cilicia.

And Alexander coming back up the Syrian coastline to deal with Darius after Darius supposedly kills all his injured, wounded men.

And then you get the first big battle between Alexander and Darius himself.

And I know the ancient sources once again say Darius has a massive army, maybe over 100,000 men.

It's between 50 and 100,000 is...

The Paspids, they're like the elite foot guards.