Search found 490 matches

by smittysmitty
Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:28 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Did Alexander have another brother?
Replies: 13
Views: 7348

Nice one Marcus! good pick up that one, I've got to say :D . A puzzling statement indeed - just to add my own two bob's worth on the matter; the name Amphimachus, although mentioned in the Homeric epics, doesn't really have a dynastic association with the Argeads. Most Argeads tended to inherrit anc...
by smittysmitty
Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:27 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander's sword
Replies: 8
Views: 10670

Re: Alexander's sword

I realise there's no mention of such a thing in the historical record, but I was wondering if anyone was aware of any legend or tradition which gives Alexander's sword a name of its own. Such legends did exist, although I don't know of one specifically concerning Alexander. If memory serves me righ...
by smittysmitty
Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:23 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: New important archaelogical findings in Vergina
Replies: 12
Views: 8420

I can’t work it out – whenever I try to post some URL’s my post does not appear? Perhaps best not to post them eh! See how this goes. As Karl has said, the helmet is of an Illyrian type and I know of at least two others which were found at the Sindos cemetery just outside of Thessalonike. The gold l...
by smittysmitty
Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:53 am
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: New important archaelogical findings in Vergina
Replies: 12
Views: 8420

I'm pretty sure the helmet and death mask depicted in R.C are not from Vergina, rather they appear to be remains found from the cemetery at Archontiko - just outside of Pella. If they are from Vergina there is certainly a striking similarity. Nice picture! cheers! Nearly forgot, I think a sticky thr...
by smittysmitty
Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:05 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: New important archaelogical findings in Vergina
Replies: 12
Views: 8420

Facinating news, thanks for that. I wonder if the bones will end up being those of a 40-60 something female. If so, could they be those of Eurydike , the mother of Philip. Is it possible that the sanctuary of Eukleia has been wrongly identified and the rubble is that of an actual tomb rather than te...
by smittysmitty
Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:14 pm
Forum: Alexander the Great in the Media
Topic: Try my quiz
Replies: 27
Views: 14416

Ha! I'm an Alexander. I would never have picked that.

Was fun anyway.
by smittysmitty
Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:20 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Arrhidaeus older than Alexander?
Replies: 15
Views: 9956

The question has often been raised as to who was the elder, Arrhidaeus or Alexander. Whilst there are no certain answers, I was pleasantly suprised to find a reference to this matter whilst reading the chronicles of Bishop John of Nikiu. I'm sure that for many Pothos contributers this is not a new b...
by smittysmitty
Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:18 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Historical sources- Amyntas
Replies: 7
Views: 4720

I don't know that there is a great deal of information forthcomming but you may try Diodorus Siculus and Justin, both of whom discuss Philip's early years to some degree.

cheers.
by smittysmitty
Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:02 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander and his mind
Replies: 155
Views: 49518

...the evidence supporting the idea of a established Macedonian custom seem impossible to find. This could have been – not must, but could have - a custom established by Philip himself. But then again, it’s also entirely possible that it was established long before him. I Approaching this from a sl...
by smittysmitty
Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:50 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander and his mind
Replies: 155
Views: 49518

I wonder whether, (as per O'Brien's comment as posted by Amyntoros), if it's difficult to believe that this event (if it ever happened at all) occurred at Chaeronea, then people must have worked out when it might otherwise have occurred. Curtius is the only source that mentions Alexander saving Phi...
by smittysmitty
Sat May 31, 2008 5:29 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander's Values
Replies: 34
Views: 15071

Re: Subjugation of the Greek states was unavoidable

The simple fact is, that Philip couldn't expand in any direction (except North) without coming into conflict with the poleis . Therefore, he had to subdue Greece before he could go into Asia. Hi Marcus, I'm afraid I can't agree with you. In saying what you do, you presume Philip had already preconc...
by smittysmitty
Sat May 31, 2008 11:10 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander's Values
Replies: 34
Views: 15071

I'm not trying to justify Alexander's move. I'm pointing out that it was strategically logical. See below. I mean this. Post-Peloponnesian War, it wasn't unknown for a Greek power to seek money and aid from the Great King in order to thwart a rival. Given this trend, Alexander would have been a foo...
by smittysmitty
Sat May 31, 2008 6:23 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander's Values
Replies: 34
Views: 15071

I'm merely saying that, having decided to invade Persia, securing his southern "flank" was a logical move for Alexander. I doubt very much that southern Greeks of the day saw their subjugation by Macedon as 'simply' a case of tactic or strategy in order to bring about some (forced) notion...
by smittysmitty
Tue May 20, 2008 4:14 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander bans the exposure of dead corpses to vultures!
Replies: 4
Views: 3494

Thanks for that Amyntoros, That was a very quick response, well done. I'd say your right in saying RLF has drawn upon Strabo for this information (and quite possibly other sources). I t seems to have gone against the grain of what we, or perhaps more appropriately I, believed Alexander was all about...
by smittysmitty
Tue May 20, 2008 10:26 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander bans the exposure of dead corpses to vultures!
Replies: 4
Views: 3494

Alexander bans the exposure of dead corpses to vultures!

Reading a bit of R.L. Fox's Alexander earlier today and on page 302 he states: 'Meanwhile, the natives saw garrisons installed in their main villages; Cyrus's old town was being changed into a new Alexandria, and already, as in Bactria, Alexander had banned the exposure of dead corpses to vultures, ...