332 BC · Judea / Sinai (modern Gaza) Theater
332 BC
Gaza was the last barrier before Egypt — a strongly fortified city on a high hill, held by a Persian garrison under the eunuch commander Batis, who had hired Arab mercenaries and refused to surrender. Engineers declared the hill too high to mine; Alexander's engineers built massive earthworks around the entire city and mounted the siege artillery on top. After two months, the walls were breached and the garrison killed. The civilian population was sold into slavery. Batis himself was captured alive. Alexander, allegedly furious at being wounded in the shoulder during the siege, ordered Batis tied to a chariot and dragged around the city walls — a deliberate echo of Achilles dragging Hector's body around Troy.
Commanders