Search found 195 matches

by hiphys
Sun Apr 07, 2024 5:34 am
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden
Replies: 13
Views: 2061

Re: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden

Right, writers weren't interested in intimate details of men's relationship, but they were very interested in royal behaviour and who exercised power. Hephaestion was taller and more handsome than Alexander and it might have appeared that he held the power in their relationship. Therefore ancient wr...
by hiphys
Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:37 pm
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden
Replies: 13
Views: 2061

Re: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden

You are right, for this reason Alexander rebuked openly Hephaestion, but "in private" Crateros, when they quarrelled (Plut. Life of Alex. 47, 11). But there is another school of thought suggesting that subsequent or Roman writers have erased the sexual partnership between Alexander and Hep...
by hiphys
Tue Apr 02, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden
Replies: 13
Views: 2061

Re: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality by Daniel Ogden

On the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion I found a passage particularly interesting in James Davidson, The Greeks & Greek Love, London 2007 (Phoenix), pp. 373-379. I like above all this quote: "Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion really does stand out. The combination of ...
by hiphys
Sun Mar 03, 2024 2:31 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Netflix’s Alexander..
Replies: 7
Views: 299

Re: Netflix’s Alexander..

I watched the whole of the Netflix series on Alexander and I'm upset and angry. I read comments on many mistakes of the series (army, tactics, dress and so on), but I think the whole planning is wrong: its true headline should have been "Alexander Romance". Even the so-called 'experts' had...
by hiphys
Fri Feb 23, 2024 6:30 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Dionysius of Halikarnassos
Replies: 10
Views: 2410

Re: Dionysius of Halikarnassos

Hegesias of Magnesia (a rhetorician founder of 'asianism', a flowery literary current) lived in III century B.C., Dionysius of Halikarnassos (who supported 'atticism' an opposite literary current) in I cent. B.C. Therefore Dionysius quoted Hegesias.
by hiphys
Sun Jan 07, 2024 2:08 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Johannes of Hildesheim and Alexander
Replies: 1
Views: 1296

Johannes of Hildesheim and Alexander

Today is Epiphany and I found a legend about this Christian holiday. Johannes of Hildesheim (Germany) a Carmelite monk (1310-1375 A.D.), in his book 'Historia Trium Regum (History of Three Kings, i.e.the Magi)', told a legend connected with the gold given to the Child Jesus by Melchior. He said the ...
by hiphys
Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:25 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Herculaneum papyri
Replies: 3
Views: 2037

Re: Herculaneum papyri

Hi Dean, your questions are very interesting. In ancient times memory was more developed than ours and oral tradition was the main way to hand down names, deeds, poems, customs, and history. But 'oral' doesn't mean 'incorrect', 'wrong' or 'imprecise': sometimes memory is better than writing, as you ...
by hiphys
Thu Jun 01, 2023 12:37 am
Forum: Topics for study
Topic: Timeline of Alexander's Life - Brief
Replies: 2
Views: 5966

Re: Timeline of Alexander's Life - Brief

I remember the debate we held here in pothos about the birthday of Alexander, some time ago. There were astronomical dates supporting July 20, but I don't know any argument for July 26. Does Nick have this date on good authority? Thanks.
by hiphys
Fri Mar 03, 2023 6:43 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Dissertation on the Ancient and Modern Treatment of ATG
Replies: 6
Views: 2989

Re: Dissertation on the Ancient and Modern Treatment of ATG

Thank you very much. I tried over and over, and in the end I succeeded in seeing the whole document. Till now I read only the Appendix V "Hephaestion": it seems to me not so dark as I feared and not so new as I wished. When I'll read the rest I'll tell what I think of this study. Best rega...
by hiphys
Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:51 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander, Hephaestion and "twinship"
Replies: 0
Views: 3159

Alexander, Hephaestion and "twinship"

"Psichologists give the label "twinship" to the relationship that lies behind friendships of this intensity. Twinship can be viewed as a special form of narcissistic link, protecting an individual from feelings of dependency and helplessness. Clinical research has shown that in the &q...
by hiphys
Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:40 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Plutarch: The Education of Children
Replies: 3
Views: 1667

Re: Plutarch: The Education of Children

After the end of India's expedition there were many rumors about Alexander returning to Greece, for many reasons: the flight of Harpalos, the exiles' decree and its consequences, e.g. Athens unwillingness to leave Samos (that fosterered the offer of Gorgos to Alexander of suits of armour for the sie...
by hiphys
Sat Jan 21, 2023 4:18 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Plutarch: The Education of Children
Replies: 3
Views: 1667

Re: Plutarch: The Education of Children

Plutarch quotes this passage as an example of inability to control tongue. The rhetorician Theocritus of Chios was at loggerheads with Alexander, but, above all with Antigonus, the One-Eyed. Alexander wished that his companions wore Persian purple clothes, but his wish was misinterpreted in many way...
by hiphys
Sun Dec 11, 2022 6:37 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: An alleged head of Hephaestion
Replies: 6
Views: 1669

Re: An alleged head of Hephaestion

Very interesting. I'll ask two questions about this head: 1) What is the dating. 2) I see a groove in the hair: is it possible he wore a diadema?
Thank you!
by hiphys
Fri Nov 25, 2022 9:28 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Alexander and his sister
Replies: 0
Views: 2740

Alexander and his sister

Plutarch (Moralia 818 b) says:

"When Alexander heard his sister [perhaps Cleopatra] made love to a handsome young man he didn't get angry, but said she too might enjoy royalty".

The same Plutarch, who lived four century later, blamed him for his compliance.