The canyon became a slaughterhouse, bodies piling up from the stone wall to the entrance. Some were crushed into pulp, others writhed in agony, wailing amidst streams of blood.
"Raise the shield wall!"
"Javelins ready!"
Juleios, though tense, gave his commands clearly and steadily as he watched the trapped Persians.
The Persians who clambered over the wall faced a hail of javelins from Epitenes and his light infantry. Greek heavy infantry formed an impenetrable shield wall, with the first four ranks braced tightly together, their spears protruding like a lethal barrier, blocking the path. The panicked, unorganized Persians were easily struck down.
Juleios had ordered the stone-and-wood wall to prevent cavalry charges. Without it, rampaging horses could devastate even the sturdiest phalanx. But the wall exceeded expectations. Coupled with the piled corpses, it blocked the Persians entirely, leaving them unable to muster enough force to breach Juleios's defense.
