To change the discussions away from Alexander's waist for the moment, I'd like to start the year off on the right foot and cut right to the chase - A discussion to decide Alexander's Greatest Achievment.

A tough and subjective task if ever there was one, but for starters let's open up the opinions on which of the following takes the prize. Please post in others !

1. Building the monumentous mounds up to height of the walls of Gaza in order to take the city, as no other means would work.

2. Capture of Halicarnassus - after only being saved by his backup troops and asking Memnon for a truce to pick up his dead did Alexander successfully manage to take the town

3. Making his enemy's table his footstool in Susa

4. Eventual defeat of Bessus

5. Defeating Porus at the Jhelum

6. Victory at Gaugamela against the odds

7. Defeat of the Malli - Alexander's single-handed assault on the citadel leaving him stranded from his troops who refused to attack until they saw their King struck down. Even when isolated on the city’s walls on his own with the entire enemy force inside the citadel, Alexander jumped down INTO the town to take them on alone and undefended.

8. Pouring his own water away to inspire his troops when crossing the Makran desert

9. Deciding to carry on after Darius even after capturing Babylon, Persepolis and Susa.

10. My personal favourite (which touched my own warped sense of humor) – sending his shooltime tutor, Leonidas, 18 tons of frankincense and myrrh from Persia in remembrance of his tutor’s advice when he threw two fistfuls into the fire – ‘When you've conquered the spice bearing regions, you can throw away all the incense you like. Till then don't waste it.’ He certainly took his advice with literal brilliance.

Let's hear your thoughts !