After decades of research and exploration, archaeologists have identified the exact location of the Battle of the Granicus, one of Alexander the Great's most important victories. The battle, which took place in May 334 BC near the Granicus River (now known as the Biga), on the Biga Plain in present-day Turkey, marked the beginning of Alexander's legendary campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

Battle of the Granicus (1665), oil on canvas, housed in the Louvre Museum.                                                             public domain

Professor Reyhan Korpe, a historian at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ) and scientific advisor to the "Alexander the Great - Cultural Route" project, led the team that discovered the battlefield. "Our research, combined with a careful reading of ancient sources, allowed us to determine the exact location of the battle, the countries involved and their position on the battlefield," Korpe told Türkiye Today. The discovery, which is the result of more than 20 years of effort, also traced the route taken by Alexander and his army to reach the battlefield.

The Biga River, historically known as the Granicus River, near the site of the                 Battle of Granicus fought in 334 BCE. Credit: Kizildeniz/CC BY-SA 4.0

The Battle of Granicus was Alexander's first major encounter with the Persian Empire, marking the beginning of his conquest of Asia Minor. This victory not only demonstrated Alexander's military genius, but also paved the way for his future campaigns that would eventually dismantle the Persian Empire and lay the foundation for the Hellenization of much of Asia. However, this Hellenization was relatively short-lived, for about a century later, the rise of the Parthian Empire saw much of the former Achaemenid territories reconquered under Iranian rule.

Persian warriors at Darius’ palace in Susa, Iran. Exhibited in Pergamon   

                                 Museum. Credit: mshamma/CC-BY

“This battle is considered one of the most pivotal moments in world history,” said Korpe. “Following his victory here, Alexander went on to conquer Western Anatolia and much of Asia, extending his empire into India.”

Born in Pella, Macedonia, in 356 BC. Alexander the Great was educated by the philosopher Aristotle and ascended to the throne in 336 BC. By the time he died in 323 BC. BC, he had built one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India.

The research team used ancient texts to map Alexander's journey to Granicus. From the village of Özbek, Alexander's army passed through Umurbey and Lapseki before descending onto the Biga Plain. "We have found the route that Alexander took to reach the site of the Battle of Granicus," said Korpe. These findings were confirmed by landscape features and archaeological evidence, creating a highly accurate map of Alexander's route.


Detail of the Alexander Mosaic depicting the Battle of Issus between Alexander the

       Great & Darius III of Persia, from the House of the Faun in Pompeii, Naples

                Archaeological Museum. Credit: Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0)


The Battle of Granicus is remembered not only for its military significance, but also for its transformative impact on world history. The quiet Granicus River, where thousands of soldiers fought and died, serves today as a reminder of a moment that shaped the ancient world.