"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٦‎٣] (٧٣٨/١٣١)

120
MILITARY HISTORY
and compelling the surrender of hostile forces. As a turtan (com
mander) of the right and a turtan of the left are spoken of, they
may have used a regular formation in two wings and a centre,
the king being in command in the centre. Other high officers
whose titles are known were the Rah-shake (2 Kings xvni. 17)
and the Rab-mug (Jer. xxxix. 3, 13). The Assyrians em
ployed a large amount of siege equipment (storming-ladders,
battering-rams, siege-towers, &c.) and practised the ordinary
methods of sapping and undermining walls and towers.
Altogether they must have displayed considerable skill in the
reduction of highly fortified and well defended towns, though
the long resistance of Samaria, Damascus, and other places
besieged by them marks the limitation of their methods.
III. The Persian Period (6th-4th century b. c.)
After Babylon was captured by the Persian king Cyrus
(539 b. C.), Syria and all the subject lands quietly accepted
their new ruler. The Persian empire was greater and more
beneficent than any previously existing world power. The
subject peoples were treated considerately, and some at least
were grateful. The Jews were restored to Palestine. Egypt
was conquered before the end of the sixth century (526-525 B.C.),
and remained subject for more than 100 years. The fourth
century was a time of decay due to civil wars and the revolts
of provincial governors. Syria, however, seems to have
remained loyal, except for a brief revolt of the Phoenician
towns (350 b. c.)
The Persians were famous for their mounted archers. They
also used chariots, and are believed to have introduced the
use of the scythed chariot in the East. In the fourth century
Persian armies were largely composed of Greek mercenaries.
This led to a combination of Asiatic and Greek methods of
warfare, especially after the time of Alexander the Great. Greek
armies consisted originally for the most part of foot soldiers.
Their formation in line of battle was called a phalanx and was
at first usually eight deep. They were exercised in drill move
ments (‘about turn ’, ‘ right turn ‘ left turn ‘ half left turn