The Dashing Persian Army

The battle at Issus in 333 BC between the Persian Army and the Macedonians led by Alexander was a decisive blow to Darius III. At this battle a number of units normally loyal to the Persians switched sides. Persian history took a turn. The Achaemenid Persian rule of the ancient world was coming to an end.

Upon Darius III's defeat Alexander appointed Abdalonymus as the king of Sidon (as a reward for switching sides). The King subsequently commissioned what is now known as the "Alexander Sarcophagus". It shows on various friezes Persians and Macedonians in combat at Issus.

This Sarcophagus is used   with a second historical monument known as the "Alexander Mosaic" from Pompeii by Simon Chew to piece together details of robes and colours.

Persian Immortal Guards

In the pages that follow you will see a profusion of purple and saffron worn by the Persian army. Sekunda & Chew report that "true 'sea-purple' extracted from the murex shell, was the most expensive dye known in antiquity.

After purple they write " the most valuable luxury dye was saffron. This was harvested by hand from the three rust red pistils inside the petals of the crocus blossom. These then have to be carefully toasted dry. Properly dried, saffron will keep for a century. After purple the most commonly found colour to use for battle robes was saffron." The crocus occurs spontaneously in Iran and its cultivation has been recorded in a number of Iranian provinces. Saffron as a dye and food colouring still constitutes an export earring commodity for Iran.

• The colours still prevail (Persian Tribal Dance).

The Dashing Persians as depicted by Simon Chew

• Persian Regiments of Immortals, 6th century BC
• Court scene, early 5th century BC
• Darius III and Spearbearers, c333 BC
• The Persian Elite Regiment of Immortals, c333 BC
• Other Immortals, c333 BC
• Persian National Cavalry at Issus
• The Sidonian Army, 333 BC