Philip's great general Parmenio, who had secured a foothold in Asia Minor during Philip's lifetime, commands the Thessalian cavalry on the left; many of the sixty-four-year-old warrior's family and supporters are entrenched in positions of responsibility.

In addition, there are lighter armed troops, such as the scouts, and less-coordinated but highly effective contingents of slingers and other irregulars, usually from the parts of Greece where the concept of polis is imperfectly developed.

This army is a formidable machine in the metaphorical sense.

There also are literal machines-stone-throwing siege engines that can be assembled on the spot.

The Thessalian siege engineers associated with Philip certainly continue into Alexander's reign (and will enable him to conquer Anatolia and Phoenicia at comparatively high speed, given the fortified obstacles confronting him).

Surveyors, engineers, architects, scientists, court officials, and historians accompany the army of Alexander, who, from the outset, seems to envisage an unlimited operation.