The Macedonian Conquests

400,000

disputed broad estimate

Ancient totals are reconstructed from incomplete and often rhetorical sources. The displayed aggregate is an illustrative visualization, not a precise demographic count.

Each dot below represents 1,000 human lives. Scroll to watch the scale unfold.

Military Dead

Working allocation: 280,000 soldiers killed in combat, from wounds, or from disease. Each = 1,000 lives.

Macedonian Empire — 15,000 military dead

Achaemenid Persian Empire & Opponents — 265,000 military dead

Civilian Dead

120,000 civilians killed — from violence, famine, disease, and displacement. Wars are not fought only by soldiers.

Civilian dead — 120,000

Deadliest Engagements

Battle of Issus60,500

incl. 500 civilians

Battle of Gaugamela55,000

Battle of the Persian Gates18,000

Siege of Gaza17,000

incl. 5,000 civilians

Battle of the Hydaspes16,000

Siege of Tyre10,500

incl. 2,000 civilians

Battle of the Malli7,000

incl. 1,000 civilians

Siege of Halicarnassus6,000

incl. 1,000 civilians

For Perspective

How Alexander the Great's dead compare to other conflicts and events.

Alexander the Great — working total400,000

Population of Athens (330 BC)300,000

Macedonian campaign deaths (all battles)280,000

Tyrians killed or enslaved at Tyre38,000

Treasure captured at Persepolis (talents)120,000

Milestones of Loss

8,000 dead

Tyrians killed when city fell (30,000 more enslaved)

40,000 dead

Estimated Persian dead at Gaugamela

100,000 dead

Persian dead at Issus (ancient sources; likely exaggerated)

280,000 dead

Total estimated deaths across all of Alexander's campaigns

Figures are working historical estimates and vary across sources. Labels identify totals that are reported, disputed, or unknown; numerical allocations may be retained for comparison without implying exact knowledge. Each number represents human lives, not false precision.