Archaeologists have uncovered the long-lost site where Alexander the Great achieved his first major victory in battle. It took place against the Persians in 334 BC, and marked the start of the 21-year-old general’s campaign to conquer Asia Minor.
New evidence suggests that the battlefield lies near the modern-day Biga River in northwestern Turkey.
Turkish archaeologist Reyhan Korpe has been searching for the site of the so-called Battle of the Granicus for two decades.
“The Battle of the Granicus is considered one of the most pivotal moments in world history,” he told Turkiye Today. “Following his victory here, Alexander conquered…much of Asia, extending his empire into India.”
The battle of 90,000 men saw Alexander’s Macedonian army face the formidable Persian force for the first time. The Persian ruler Darius was warned not to meet the Macedonian army head-on, but he ignored his advisers.
This marked the first of three battles between the Persians and Alexander’s army across Asia Minor. The Battle of the Granicus began the fall of the Persian Empire.
The site of the ancient Battle of the Granicus. Photo: Reyhan Korpe
Two decades of research
The exact location of this historic battlefield had eluded searchers for centuries. Korpe and his team analyzed ancient texts, did extensive fieldwork, and even did geomorphological analysis to map Alexander’s route through the region. After two decades of meticulous research, they finally pinpointed the location of the battle.
In the 19th century, German geographer Heinrich Kiepert suggested this site as the location but offered little evidence to support his claim. For Korpe, the key was finding the remains of the ancient city of Hermaion, cited as Alexander’s final stop before the battle.
Ancient sources also state that some of Alexander’s men positioned themselves on a hill during the battle. Farmers have found ancient remains and weapons on a hill next to the proposed battleground.
“The most important discovery was identifying the routes Alexander took to reach the battlefield and where he camped along the way,” explained Korpe. “We mapped out the exact route Alexander traveled.”
Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism plans to develop the site into a tourist attraction.
