*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*
ALEJANDROS O MEGAS
*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*
Elias Kapetanopoulos,
Professor Dr.
Department of History
Central Connecticut State
University
New Britain, CT
06050-4010
E-mail: Kapetanopoulo@mail.ccsu.edu
Web site: www.history.ccsu.edu/elias/elias.htm
Research: Athens in the
Roman period, 200 B.C.-A.D. 300; Makedones as Hellenes.
----------------------------------
8 ÉOktvbr€ou 2002 >
8 October
2002 = 4
ÉOktvbr€ou 2003 > 4 October 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUTLINES of the main sources of Alexander the
Great: Diodoros,
Curtius Rufus, Plutarch, Arrian, Alexander
Romance
[done for a course on Alexander (which may be of some use)-scanned by Dave
Gartner, Graduate Assistant]. Typographika may remain. All rights reserved.
Substitutions: Hellas (ÑEllãw) (=in place of Greece)
[Latin: Graecia]
Hellenes (ÜEllhnew) (=Greeks)[Latin: Graecus, Graeci]
Hellenic (=Greek)
Makedones (=Macedonians)
Makedonia (=Macedonia)
Makedonian (=Macedonian)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diodoros [end of 1st c.
B.C.], Bk. 17 in Two Parts [Loeb VIII, trans. by C. B. Welles]:
Contents
of Part One
<<How
Alexander, having succeeded to the throne, disposed the affairs of his
kingdom (chaps. 1‑7).
How he recovered the tribes which
revolted (chap. 8. 1-2).
How he razed Thebes to
the ground and terrified the Hellenes and was
elected general plenipotentiary of
Hellas (chaps. 8. 3‑16).
How he crossed into Asia
and defeated the satraps at the river Granicus in
Phrygia (chaps. 17‑21).
How he took by siege
Miletus and Halicarnassus (chaps. 22‑27).
The battle of Dareius
against Alexander at Issus in Cilicia, and the victory of
Alexander (chaps. 30‑39).
The siege of Tyre, the
occupation of Egypt, and the journey of the king to
Ammon (chaps. 40‑52).
The battle of Alexander
with Dareius at Arbela and the victory of Alexander
(chaps. 53‑61).
The battle of Antipater
with the Lacedaernonians and the victory of Antipater
(chaps. 62‑63).
Contents
of Part Two
The capture
of Arbela by Alexander and the seizure of great wealth (chap. 64.
1‑3).
The refreshment
of the army in Babylon and the rewards given to those who
had
distinguished themselves in service (chap. 64. 3‑6)
The arrival of the mercenaries and
allies dispatched to him (chap. 65. 1).
The organization and equipment of
his army (chap. 65.2‑4).
How Alexander occupied Susa and its
treasures (chap. 65. 5‑66).
How he mastered the passes and took
possession of the so‑called Susian
Gates (chaps. 67‑68)
How he showed kindness to the
Hellenes who had been mutilated, and took
and sacked Persepolis (chaps. 69‑71)
How he set fire to the palace in a
revel (chap. 72)
The murder of Dareius by Bessus
(chap. 73. 1‑4).
The expedition of Alexander into
Hyrcania and an account of its marvellous
plants (chap. 75).
How Alexander took the field against
the Mardi and defeated them (chap. 76).
How Thalestris queen of the Amazons
had relations with Alexander (chap. 77.
1‑3).
How the king, thinking himself
invincible, imitated the luxury of the Persians
(chap. 77. 4‑7).
The campaign of Alexander against
the Areii who had revolted and the
capture of the
"Rock" (chap. 78).
The conspiracy against the king and
the punishment of the conspirators, the
most distinguished
among them being Parmenion and Philotas (chaps.
79‑80).
The campaign of Alexander
into the territory of the Paropanisadae and his
adventures there (chap. 82).
The single combat that
took place in the territory of the Areii and their
annexation (chap. 83. 1‑6).
The death of Bessus, the murderer of
Dareius (chap. 83. 7-9)
{How Alexander marched
through the desert and lost many of his men (this
and the subsequent chapters are missing).
How the Branchidae, who
of old had been settled by the Persians on the
borders of
their kingdom, were slain by Alexander as traitors to the
Hellenes.
How the king led his
troops against the Sogdiani and Scythians.
How the chieftains of the
Sogdiani, who were being led off to execution, were
unexpectedly saved.
How Alexander defeated
the Sogdiani who had revolted and slew more than
one hundred and twenty thousand of them.
How he punished the
Bactriani and subdued the Sogdiani a second time and
founded cities in suitable places to restrain any who rebelled.
The third rebellion of
the Sogdiani and capture of those who took refuge in the
"Rock."
Concerning the hunt in
Basista and the abundance of game there.
Concerning the sin against
Dionysus and the slaying of Cleitus at the
drinking bout.
Concerning the death of
Callisthenes.
The campaign of the king
against the people called Nautaces and the
destruction of the army in heavy snow.
How Alexander, enamoured
of Roxane, daughter of Oxyartes, married her and
persuaded numbers of his friends to marry the daughters of the
prominent Iranians [=barbarians].
Preparation for the campaign against
the Indians.
Invasion of India and
complete annihilation of their first nation in order to
overawe the rest.
How he benefited the city
named Nysia because of his relationship to it
through Dionysus}
How, after plundering the
stronghold of Massaca, he cut down all the
mercenaries although they fought magnificently (chap. 84).
How he took by assault
the Rock called Aornus, which had always proved
impregnable (chap. 85).
How he won over to his
side Taxiles, king of the Indians, and in a great
engagement defeated Porus, took him prisoner and gave him back his
throne because of his gallant conduct (chaps. 86‑89).
An account of the
marvellous serpents in the country and of the fruits which
grow there (chap. 90).
How he won over to his
side many of the neighbouring tribes and defeated
others (chap. 91. 1‑4).
How he subdued the
country that was subject to Sopeithes (chap. 91. 4).
Concerning the good
government of the cities in this country (chap. 91. 4‑6).
Concerning the excellence
of the dogs presented to Alexander (chap. 92).
Concerning the story told
by the king of the Indians (chap. 93. 1‑3).
How, when Alexander
desired to cross the Ganges River and march against
the people
called Gandaridae, the Makedones mutinied (chaps. 93.
4‑94).
How, after marking the
furthest point reached by his army, the king visited the
remaining regions of the Indians (chap. 95).
How he sailed down the
Indus River to the southern Ocean, and almost died
of an arrow wound (chaps. 96‑99).
Concerning the single
combat that issued from a challenge (chaps.
100‑101).
Concerning the Indians
whom he conquered on both banks of the river as far
as the Ocean (chaps. 10!2‑103).
Concerning the marvels
and practices found among the inhabitants and
about the men who live a brutish existence (chaps. 104‑106. 3).
How the naval expedition
through the Ocean rejoined Alexander as he was
encamped by the sea and gave an account of their voyage (chap. 106.
4‑7).
How again setting sail
they skirted a long expanse of coastline (chap. 107. 1).
How he selected thirty
thousand young Persians, trained them in military
exercises and formed them into a counterpart of his Makedonian
phalanx (chap. 108.1‑3).
How Harpalus, who was
accused of luxurious living and excessive
expenditures, fled from Babylon and sought the protection of the people
of Athens (chap. 108. 4‑7).
How he fled from Attica
and was killed ; he had deposited seven hundred
talents of his money with the Athenians and placed four thousand
talents and eight thousand
mercenaries on Taenarum in Laconia
(chap. 108. 7‑8).
How Alexander, having paid
the debts of his veteran Makedones, which cost
him ten thousand talents,
returned them to their homes (chap. 109.
1‑12).
How the Makedones
revolted and he punished their ringleaders (chap. 109.
2-3).
How Peucestes brought to
Alexander ten thousand bowmen and slingers
whom he had recruited from among the Persians (chap. 110. 2).
How the king reorganized
his army by intermingling Persians with
Makedoness (chap. 110. 1).
How he paid expenses and
educational fees for all the soldiers' children, ten
thousand in number (chap. 110. 3).
How Leosthenes made
preparations for starting a war against the
Makedoness (chap. Ill. 1‑3).
How Alexander campaigned
against the Cossaeans (chap. 111. 4‑6).
How, as the king was on
his way to Babylon, the Chaldaeans prophesied to
Alexander that he would die if he entered Babylon (chap. 112. 1‑3).
How the king at first was
frightened and passed Babylon by, but later,
persuaded by the Hellenes philosophers, entered the city (chap. 112.
4‑6).
Concerning the multitude
of embassies that arrived there (chap. 113).
Concerning the funeral of
Hephaestion and the large sum expended on it
(chaps. 114‑115)
Concerning the omens that
appeared to Alexander and concerning his death
(chaps. 116‑118).>>
-----------------------
Curtius [middle 1st c.
A.D., it seems], The History of Alexander (transl. by John
Yardley [introduction/notes by W.
Heckel], Penguin Classics,1984)
Bks. I‑II, Summaries, pp. 19‑25.
Bk. III, pp. 26‑49:
26‑27 (1): Darius at the Euphrates ‑ most of western
Asia Minor conquered by Alexander. Gordian knot.
28‑29 (2): Darius numbers his forces ‑ Charidemus,
the Athenian, put to death.
29‑31(3): death of Memnon.
Thymondas in command of Hellenic troops under Darius. Darius' dream. Persian
army and Makedones compared.
31‑33(4): Alexander at
the Cilician Gates ‑ at Tarsus.
33‑34(5): Alexander
seriously ill - against slow
remedies.
34‑36(6): Philip, the
faithful physician ‑ Parmenio's letter not to trust Philip.
36‑37(7): Alexander at
Soli ‑ games to Asklepios and Athena. Decides to fight at Issus.
37‑40(8): Patron,
commander of Hellenic troops ‑ Patron's motives questioned ‑ Darius meets
Makedones at Issus.
40‑41(9): description of
forces at Issus.
41‑42(10): Alexander
extents his troops. Makedones, Hellenes, et alii.
42‑47(12): the battle ‑
Persians routed.
44‑47(12): Darius' family
in Alexander's hands ‑ buries dead - visits Darius' family.
47‑49(13): at Damascus
Parmenio gets Darius' treasures.
Bk. IV, PP. 50‑91:
50‑53(1): Darius to the
Euphrates ‑ Alexander marches down the Syrian coast ‑ letter of Darius‑ ‑ Sidon
‑ Amyntas, the deserter, killed by Persians.
54‑56(2): siege of Tyre.
56‑59(3): siege of Tyre ‑
causeway.
59‑61(4): sea monster ‑
capture of Tyre.
61‑63(5): Darius' peace
offer ‑ crown for Alexander at Isthmian games ‑ governors are appointed.
63‑66(6): capture of
Gaza.
66‑69(7): Alexander in Egypt ‑ visit to
oracle of Zeus‑Ammon.
69‑702): Foundation of ALEXANDRIA.
70‑73(9): Darius at Arbela with a large
force.
73‑75(10): Alexander
against Darius ‑ death of Darius' wife.
76‑77(11): Darius' peace
offer – 30.000 talents ‑ Parmenio's advice.
77‑79(12): Darius' huge
army frightening the Makedones ‑ no turn back.
79‑83(13): Alexander will
fight open warfare ‑ sleeps calmly - line of battle.
83‑85(14): Alexander and
Darius address their armies.
85‑88(15): description of
the battle of Gaugamela – Darius flees.
88‑91(16): Alexander to
the aid of Parmenio(n) ‑ saved from great peril
Bk. V, pp. 92‑117:
92‑96(1): Darius heads
for Media ‑ Alexander captures Arbela - goes to Babylon.
96‑97(2): contest in
military valor ‑ takes Susa and its treasures.
98‑100(3): Uxii are
defeated ‑ Ariobarzanes opposes Alexander at the Susian Gates.
100‑102(4): Alexander
defeats Persians.
103‑105(5): takes
Persepolis‑ ‑ frees 4.000 Hellenic prisoners.
105‑107(6): Persepolis
plundered ‑ subjection of Mardi.
107‑108(7): burning of
palace at PERSEPOLIS.
108‑109(8): Darius'
whereabouts.
109‑111(9): Darius supported by
Hellenic troops ‑ Bessus – Nabar – zanes’ escape.
111‑112(10): Bessus'‑Nabarzanes'
plot against Darius.
112‑113(11): plot
revealed to Darius.
113‑115(12): Bessus
seizes Darius.
115‑117(13): Alexander to
Darius ‑ Darius stabbed to death by Bessus, et alii.
Bk. VI, pp. 118‑145:
118‑119(1): Agis' war ‑
Alexander pardons Lacedaemonians.
119-121(2): Alexander and
his adoption of foreign habits.
121‑123(3): Alexander
reviews his accomplishments.
123‑125(4): the soldiers
urge Alexander on – Caspian Sea.
125‑128(5): spares
Hellenes ‑ QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS.
128‑131(6): Alexander's habits
offend‑Makedones – campaigns against barbarians.
131‑133(7): conspiracy ‑
Dymnus ‑ Cebalinus.
133‑135(8): Philotas affair.
136‑138(9): Philotas
accused.
139‑141(10): Philotas
denies charges.
142‑145(11): Philotas' forced
confession.
Bk. VII, pp. 146‑175:
146‑149(l): Alexander
Lyncestes.
150‑153(2): death of PARMENION.
153‑155(3): Mt.
Parapanisus ‑ Alexandria.
155‑158(4): Bessus flees ‑
combat of Satibarzanes and Erigyius.
158‑161(5): capture of
Bessus.
162‑164(6): Sogdiana
subdued - Alexandria.
164‑167(7): Alexander
wounded - Scythians ‑ loss of 2.500 horsemen.
167‑169(8): envoys from
Scythians.
169‑171(9): defeats
Scythians.
171‑173(10): Sogdiana‑Bactra‑Bessus‑
six cities founded.
173‑175(11): capture of crag of Arimaza.
Bk.
VIIII pp. 176‑211:
176‑180(l): Scythian
king's daughter offered to Alexander ‑ the CLEITUS AFFAIR.
180‑183(2): Alexander
repents.
183‑184(3): Spitamenes'
wife brings her husand's head to Alexander.
184‑187(4): Alexander's
endurance and courage ‑ marries ROXANE.
187‑189(5): Callisthenes ‑
proskynesis (prostration).
189‑192(6): conspiracy of
Hermolaus ‑ Callisthenes imprisoned.
192‑193(7): Hermolaus
accuses Alexander.
193‑195(8): Alexander
replies ‑ death of CALLISTHENES and other conspirators is ordered.
196‑198(9):. Alexander
marches into India ‑ description of India.
198‑201(10): princes of
India submit - wounded at Magazae - admits his mortality.
201‑203(11): captures
crag of Aornos - not captured previously by Herakles.
203‑204(12): crosses the
Indus.
205‑207(13): at the
Hydaspes ‑ war on Porus.
207‑211(14): defeat of
Porus ‑ Alexander's clemency.
Bk. IX, pp. 212‑237:
212‑214(1): Alexander at
the Hyphasis river.
215‑217(2): soldiers
refuse to go further.
218‑22O(3): Coenus
supports the soldiers ‑ Alexander decides to turn back ‑ DEATH OF COENUS.
220‑222(4): soldiers
restless ‑ defeats the Malli(ans).
222‑225(5): Alexander
severely wounded ‑ rescued by his Companions.
225‑227(6): urged to look
after himself and the public interest.
227‑230(7): revolt of
Hellenes in Bactriana ‑ duel of CORRATAS and DIOXIPPUS. Dioxippus
kills himself,
230‑232(8): Alexander
sails down the Indus. Ptolemy is wounded.
232‑235(9): Alexander at
the OCEAN.
235‑237(10): Nearchus by sea ‑
Alexander by land ‑ Bacchanal procession. (back to Susa).
Bk. X, pp. 238‑257:
238‑241(1): severity
toward corrupt governors ‑ revolt of Odrysian Thrace.
241‑244(2): Alexander plans
to go to Athens - pays soldiers' debts ‑ quells mutiny in camp.
244‑245(3): punishes
mutineers ‑ praises foreign soldiers.
245(4): order to throw
conspirators into the river.
245‑248(5): at his DEATHBED
‑ ring is given to PERDICCAS ‑ directs his body to be taken to AMMON
‑ summary of his good and bad qualities.
248‑250(6): who is to
succeed Alexander.
250‑252(7): Meleager
favors Arrhidaeus ‑ expected son of Roxane ‑ Perdiccas‑Leonnatus regents.
252‑254(8): Meleager
incites Arrhidaeus against Perdiccas.
254‑255(9): lustration of
army ‑ Perdiccas kills Meleager.
255‑257(10): Alexander's empire
partitioned. Rumor that Alexander was poisoned. Body embalmed ‑ Ptolemy takes
it to Memphis and later to Alexandria.
-------------------------
Plutarch [ca. 50-125 A.D.], Life
of Alexander (Penguin Classics: Plutarch: The
Age of Alexander, transl. by Ian Scott-Kilvert, pp.
252‑334).
1.
Why the Life of Alexander ‑ p. 252
2. Alexander's descent ‑ 252
3.
Omens before his birth ‑ 254
4.
Official sculptor of Alexander ‑ 255
5. Early signs of leadership 256
6. Bucephalas ‑ 257
7. Alexander under Aristotle 258
8. Aristotle's influence on Alexander ‑
259
9. Regent of Makedonia at sixteen ‑ 260
10. The
Pixodarus affair ‑ 262
11. At twenty king of Makedonia ‑ 263
12. Sacking of Thebes ‑ 264
13. Alexander‑Athenians ‑ 265
14. Congress of Hellenic states ‑ 266
15. His army ‑ 267
16. River Granicus – 268-269
17. Implication(s) of River Granicus 270
18. March
through Asia Minor ‑ 271
19. Darius‑Alexander‑Cilicia
‑ 272
20. Darius‑Alexander‑Cilicia
– 273
21. Darius'
family prisoners ‑ 275
22. Sale
of beautiful boys ‑ 276
23. Moderate
in drinking ‑ 277
24. After
Issus‑Damascus ‑ 278
25. Siege
of Tyre ‑ 280
26. Iliad
most precious possession - 281
27. Zeus
Ammon ‑ 283
28. Alexander:
barbarians‑Hellenes - 284
29. Letter
of Darius to Alexander - 285
30. Alexander
remorseful because of Darius' wife's death - 286
31. Advance
against Darius ‑ 287
32. Alexander‑Parmenio‑engagement
‑ 289
33. Gaugamela
‑ 290
34. Gaugamela
seen as end of Persian empire ‑ 291
35. Babylonia
‑ 292
36. Susa
‑ 293
37. Beyond
Susa ‑ 294
38. Against
Darius (spring of 330 B.C.) - 295
39. Alexander
generous ‑ 296
40. Luxurious
habits of companions ‑ 297
41. Risking‑exercising
‑ 298
42. Time
for letters ‑ 299
43. Alexander
ahead of his men - 300
44. Hyrcania
‑ 301
45. Barbarian
dress (Parthia) - 301
46. Queen
of Amazons ‑ 302
47. Concerned
about will of Makedones 303
48. Philotas
‑ 304
49. Philotas
‑ 30
50. Cleitus
affair ‑ 307
51. Cleitus
affair ‑ 308
52. Alexander
sulking ‑ 309
53. Callisthenes
‑ 310
54. Reasons
of quarrel ‑ 311
55. Callisthenes
‑ 312
56. Demaratus
‑ 313: Woe to the Hellenes who died before Alexander.
57. India
‑ 314
58. Casualties
‑ 315
59. Taxiles
‑ 316
60. Porus
‑ 317
61. Death
of Bucephalas ‑ 318
62. Troops
unwilling to continue ‑ 319
63. Outer
ocean ‑ 320
64. Indian
philosophers ‑ 321
65. Indian
philosophers ‑ 322
66. Mouth
of Indus ‑ 323
67. March
through Carmania ‑ 324
68. Nearchus‑Alexander
join ‑ 325
69. Money
to women ‑ Calanus ‑ 326
70. Marriages
‑ 327
71. 30.000
boys trained in Hellenic language‑Makedonian fighting 328
72. Literary‑artistic
exhibitions (contests) ‑ 329
73. Alexander
at Babylon 330
74. Alexander
suspicious 331
75‑ Alexander‑supernatural
‑ 331
76. His
sickness ‑ 332
77. Death‑Roxane
‑ 333
---------------------------
Plutarch [ca. 50-125 A.D.], On
the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander (Moralia,
326D‑345B, transl. by F. C. Babbitt, Loeb IV)
I. 1: Alexander,
Fortune's (Tyche's) handiwork.
2: Alexander's reply to Fortune ‑ enumerates
his deeds.
3: difficulties before his expedition: Hellas
gasping over Philip's wars. Thebes helped by Athens ‑ Makedonia festering with
revolt - looking toward Amyntas and Aeropos' sons. Illyrians‑Scythians. Persian
gold ‑ Philip's treasures bare of money ‑ owing 200 talents ‑ though a
stripling hoped for Babylon and Susa. relying on'30‑000 foot, 4.000 horse
(Aristobulus). King Ptolemy: 30‑000 foot, 5.000 horse ‑ Anaximenes: 43‑000
foot, 5.500 horse. War chest: 70 talents (Aristobulus) ‑ Duris: provision for
30 days.
4: Philosophy equipped
Alexander with greatness of soul, keen intelligence, self‑restraint, manly
courage. Aristotle equipped him more than Philip. Iliad‑Odyssey,
equipment for his campaigns. His true equipment, philosophic teaching.
Established Hellenic cities among savage nations.
5: Plato, Socrates conversed with pupils who
knew Hellenic. Alexander civilized Asia. Indians worshipping Hellenic gods.
Persians‑Susianians‑Gedrosians chanting tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides.
Bactria and Caucasus learned to revere Hellenic gods. Sowed all Asia with
Hellenic magistracies. Alexandrias in Egypt and else.
6: Zeno's Republic: men of one community
and one polity. Alexander effected this. Alexander did not follow Aristotle's
advice: treat Hellenes as if you were their leader, others as if you were their
master ‑ regard Hellenes‑ as friends and kindred, others as though plants or
animals. Hellenics and foreigners should not be differentiated by chlamys
(cloak), targe, or scimitar and jacket. Distinguishing mark of Hellenic, virtue
‑ of the foreigner, iniquity.
7: Demaratus of Corinth seeing Alexander in
Susa exclaimed: All the Hellenes who had died before that hour had been
deprived of a great joy, since they had not seen Alexander seated on Darius'
throne. Plutarch would rather have been present at the marriage rite, when an
hundred Persian brides and an hundred Makedonian and Hellenic bridegrooms,
united at a common hearth and board (Life of Alexander, lxx (703E); Arrian,
Anabasis, vii.4; Diodorus, xvii.107.6; Athenaeus, 538B‑E Aelian, Varia
Historia, viii.7 (elsewhere number is not 100~.
8: Alexander preferred Persian raiment ‑ wore a
composite dress of Persian and Makedonian fashion ‑ to acquire the goodwill of
the conquered by showing respect for their apparel.
9: Plan and design of expedition commends
Alexander as a philosopher in his purpose ‑poets attempt to show his power and
not his moderation (on his portraits and statues), another has Alexander say: I
am the son of Zeus. But let's review Alexander's genuine sayings ‑ Olympic
games ‑ Philip's wounding by Triballians.
10: Iliad, iii.179: Both things is he; both goodly
king and a warrior mighty ‑ describing Agamemnon, but Alexander, too. His visit
to Troy. Alexander rejects Paris' lyre. Awed and astounded with the life and
worth of Diogenes ‑ "If I were not Alexander, I should be Diogenes."
Purpose: combine foreign things with things Hellenic, civilize every continent,
push bounds of Makedonia to the Ocean, disseminate and shower blessings of
Hellenic justice and peace over every nation. I imitate Herakles, emulate
Perseus and follow in the footsteps of Dionysus ‑ and victorious Hellenes dance
again in India. Stamp foreign states with the impress of Hellenic government.
1