Aretes ( el, Ἀρέτης) or Aretas ( el, Ἀρέτας) was a
Macedon
Macedonia (; grc-gre, Μακεδονία), also called Macedon (), was an Classical antiquity, ancient monarchy, kingdom on the periphery of Archaic Greece, Archaic and Classical Greece, and later the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. Th ...
ian general. At the
Battle of Gaugamela
The Battle of Gaugamela (; grc, Γαυγάμηλα, translit=Gaugámela), also called the Battle of Arbela ( grc, Ἄρβηλα, translit=Árbela), took place in 331 BC between the forces of the Army of Macedon under Alexander the Great ...
, he commanded the
sarissophoroi
The ''sarissophoroi'' (, bearers; singular: ''sarissophoros'' ), also called '' prodromoi'', were a unit of light cavalry in the ancient Macedonian army.
Overview
In the primary sources Arrian mentions that the Macedonian officer Aretes comman ...
(also known as ''
prodromoi
In ancient Greece, the ''prodromoi'' (singular: ''prodromos'') were skirmisher light cavalry. Their name (ancient Greek: ''πρόδρομοι'', ''prοdromoi'', lit. "pre-cursors," "runners-before," or "runners-ahead") implies that these cavalry ' ...
''), a unit of versatile cavalry, adept at scouting, but with an ability for close-combat in battle. He replaced
Protomachus as the commander of this unit. At Gaugamela the ''sarissophoroi'' were responsible for finally routing the Persian left wing cavalry, winning the battle in this sector. In their final charge the ''sarissophoroi'' broke the
Massagetae
The Massagetae or Massageteans (Ancient Greek: ; Latin: ), also known as Sakā tigraxaudā (Old Persian: , "wearer of pointed caps") or Orthocorybantians (Ancient Greek: ; Latin: ),: As for the term “Orthocorybantii”, this is a translati ...
heavy cavalry, Aretes personally killing their leader.
[Sidnell, p. 113]
References
Bibliography
*Ashley, J.R. (2004) ''The Macedonian Empire: The Era of Warfare Under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C.'' McFarland.
*
*''Who's who in the age of Alexander the Great: prosopography of Alexander's empire'',
Generals of Alexander the Great
4th-century BC Macedonians
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