Geoff Barker sent the following to the DBA Mailing List:
"Gods and Spacemen in Greece and Rome" by W. Raymond Drake (Sphere 1976) pages 115-116 quotes an Italian Alberto Fenoglio from "Clypeus" Anno 111, #2 (in turn quoting Giovanni Gustavo Droysen's "Storia di Alessandro il Grande") which Drake translates as:-

"One day there appeared over the Macedonian camp these "flying shields", as they had been called, which flew in a triangular formation led by an exceedingly large one, the others were smaller by almost a half. The unknown chronicler narrates that they circled slowly over Tyre while thousands of warriors on both sides stood and watched them in astonishment. Suddenly from the largest "shield" came a lightening flash that struck the walls, these crumbled, other flashes followed and walls and towers dissolved, as if they had been built of mud, leaving the way open for the besiegers who poured like an avalanche through the breeches. The "flying shields" hovered over the city until it was completely stormed then they very swiftly disappeared aloft, soon melting into the blue sky".

However, by the time of the Indian campaign the spaceships seem to have turned against Alexander. Drake quotes Frank Edwards (in "Stranger than Science" by Pan Books) who quotes an undisclosed source and claims:-

". tells of two strange craft that dived repeatedly at his (Alexanders) army until the war elephants, the men and the horses all panicked and refused to cross the river where the incident occurred. What did the things look like? His historian describes them as great shining silvery shields, spitting fire around the rims. things that came from the skies and returned to the skies"

This post from Geoff was quite inspirational, and combined with other legends about Alexander allowed the following list to be produced:

Macedonian Celestial

1 x Hero General (Alexander, accompanied by Roxanne for moral (?) support)
1 x Knight (Companion Cavalry)
1 x Airboat (Silver Shield Spaceship)
1 x Artillery (Torsion Artillery)
4 x Spears (Phalanx)
1 x Horde (Peltasts)
1 x Rider (Amazon Allies)
1 x Water Lurker (Diving Bell)

Options: Behemoth (War Elephant)

It is difficult to see how Alexander can be anything but a Hero. Roxanne was deemed to be the most beautiful woman in Asia, although this title seems to have been disputed by the wife of Darius, who died giving birth to what may have been Alexander's child. The Silver Shield spacships are described above, and the Companions, phalanx, peltasts and artillery are attested to in various more reliable sources. There is a legend concerning a meeting between Alexander and the Queen of the Amazons, so Amazon cavalry are included as a result of this liason; they are best depicted as Skythians of some sort. The diving bell comes from a medieval romance and seems to have been made of glass. More information can be found at http://winnie.fit.edu/~swood/History_pg4.html .

Whilst at the National Gallery helping on a school trip I got a chance to nose at a couple of paintings whilst my assigned little treasures were in the capable hands of the museum education staff, and found one of the presentation of the family of Darius to Alexander the Great. Possibly a Titian, I can't remember, but definately mid 16th century. Of course, in the style of that era all of the protagonists were in 16th century costume, so we had the sight of Alexander and his army in Spanish style plate and doublet and hose. Oh, and armed with halberds and the finest Toledo steel.

Made me wonder if there was mileage in doing an Alexandrian Macedonian army using 16th century figures, or at least as close as I can get. The fantasy would be not in the troop types (although a Hero general is inevitable), but in the look of the army with respect to what it is supposed to be.

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