Search found 125 matches

by derek
Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:58 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Noise About King Tut
Replies: 18
Views: 8242

As Marcus says, Tutankhamen is the most famous pharaoh only because his is the only tomb found intact. And that's how celebrity status works. It doesn't mean he's the biggest or the best, just he's the one who got the break. For every pop star, there are hundreds who are just as good but will never ...
by derek
Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:08 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander the Great museum to be created
Replies: 33
Views: 12393

My nephews and neices have suddenly got in touch with me after some ten years or so. They know nothing about my interest in Alexander, and it turns out one of them did classical history in her A-levels last year. Alexander was her project! She had to "discuss his military and political prowess ...
by derek
Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:57 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66845

I can't remember where I read it, but some of the columns at Persepolis show evidence of holes drilled into them, and the stated reason was that Alexander's men would then stuff vinegar-soaked corks into the hole. The vinegar would expand the cork under the heat of flames, exploding the column. It w...
by derek
Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:01 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66845

Phoebus, The friends I had in mind were Philotas, Callisthenes, Alexander of Lyncestis. Cleitus was a spur of the moment thing, so I didn't include him. Bessus was treacherous to Darius and did Alexander a favour by killing him. Exacting retribution on someone for killing someone you'd been trying t...
by derek
Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:03 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66845

Fiona, I use my work computer for the internet so only saw your post this morning, and most of the queries you raised about mine have already been discussed by others. If I knew how to do quotes, I'd insert them. Anyway: "For example, Porus resisted, but was not crushed" Yes, Porus fought ...
by derek
Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:55 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66845

This thread has started discussing the reasons behind Alexander's excesses, whether they're evidence of cruelty or revenge or betrayal etc. I'd say none of them. Alexander did what he had to do when the circumstances dictated. Assemble his atrocities in order, and you'll see some logic behind them. ...
by derek
Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:15 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: A Hephaistion Quiz!
Replies: 112
Views: 55203

Companion cavalry

Amyntoros, For nobility, read upper class. If Hephaestion had been a nobody he wouldn't have gained admittance to the young Prince Alexander's circle of friends. Even if he didn't come from nobility, then he must have at least come from a wealthy upper class background that was acceptable to nobilit...
by derek
Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:48 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: A Hephaistion Quiz!
Replies: 112
Views: 55203

The way I'd imagined it is that the sons of Macedonian nobility started off as pages to learn the ropes of being a nobleman/courtier, then those suitable for the military "graduated" to the Companions. The Companion cavalry was almost a depot for noblemen, riding close to the king and in h...
by derek
Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:30 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: A Hephaistion Quiz!
Replies: 112
Views: 55203

In fact, the question can't be answered. Hephaestion doesn't get a mention until Troy, so the question-setter can't know for certain which unit he joined aged 17 or 18. But it's a fair bet it would have been the Companions.

Derek
by derek
Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:38 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Importance of the Agrianes
Replies: 12
Views: 8223

Marcus, Reinforcements tend to be trotted out in a list and it's easy to miss or forget a mention, so if you remember seeing the Agrianes being reinforced, then maybe they were. The impression I got though, was that new reinforcements tended to come from Macedonia and mainland Greece, while Thracian...
by derek
Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:36 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Importance of the Agrianes
Replies: 12
Views: 8223

I agree the Agrianes don't get enough acknowledgement. The thing for me is that their bond must have been they were personally loyal to Alexander. The Greek contingents (let alone foreign) were so unreliable Alexander only ever used them in a supporting role, yet the Agrianes were front row troops i...
by derek
Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:41 pm
Forum: 'Off-topic' forum
Topic: Sympathy To the Greeks
Replies: 10
Views: 3686

I toured Greece a few years back, and one image that sticks in my mind is the night before visiting Olympia. We were in a hotel a couple of miles down the road, and I sat on my balcony very late at night. It was a full moon and I could see across the top of a pine forest that swished and rippled in ...
by derek
Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:01 pm
Forum: 'Off-topic' forum
Topic: Split thread - How/why/when did War lose its lustre?
Replies: 51
Views: 19134

The theme of this thread is that war has become less popular than it was in the past. No, I don't see that. War is still viewed as glamorous, and it's only when it starts to drag out and casualties mount that opinion changes. I lived in Britain during the Falklands War and now live in the US, so the...
by derek
Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:32 pm
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Mary Renault's Alexander
Replies: 68
Views: 21974

flogging my book

Yeah, I'm not a very good salesman, am I. There are actually two books. The first is called The Lion of Macedonia and is about Alexander's childhood through to setting out for the Hellespont. The second is Lord of the World and covers the whole of the Persian campaign up to the invasion of India. Th...
by derek
Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:19 pm
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Mary Renault's Alexander
Replies: 68
Views: 21974

Alexanthros, Whether genuinely or to make a point, you've misunderstood the meaning of the word relationship. You have a relationship with the people you work with, the people living next door, your doctor. The word relationship just refers to how you interact with them. My point is that Alexander a...