An arete is a thin, almost knife-like, ridge of rock which is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. The arête is a thin ridge of rock that is left separating the two valleys.
Aretes (Greek: Ἀρέτης) or Aretas (Greek: Ἀρέτας) was a Macedonian general. At the Battle of Gaugamela, he commanded the sarissophoroi (also known as prodromoi), a unit of versatile cavalry, adept at scouting, but with an ability for close-combat in battle. He replaced Protomachus as the commander of this unit. At Gaugamela the sarissophoroi were responsible for finally routing the Persian left wing cavalry, winning the battle in this sector. In their final charge the sarissophoroi broke the Massagetae heavy cavalry, Aretes personally killing their leader.
