he US Department of Defense defenition qualifies special operations as those “characterized by one or more of the following: time sensitive, clandestine, low visibility, conducted with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk” (DOD Dictionary 2018). The Macedonian army conducted an unconventional siege that provides a remarkable example of just such an operation. This siege occurred at a mountaintop fortress known as the Sogdian Rock, also known as the Rock of Ariamazes, after the commander of the fortress. The histories of Quintus Curtius Rufus and Arrian are two of the principal ancient sources for this siege. They differ slightly on the exact details and scholars continue to debate whether it occurred in 328 or 327 BC, but the basic narrative is generally consistent
